Question

Q. With reference to 1857 revolt, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. Bahadur Shah Jafar II declared himself as head of the revolt.
2. The British formally repudiated the sovereignty of the Mughal emperor only after the revolt of 1857.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

• A.
  1 only
• B.
  2 only
• C.
  Both 1 and 2 only
• D.
  Neither 1 nor 2

Answer 1

The correct option is B

2 only
Explanation:

• Statement 1 is incorrect: The emperor was not quite willing to challenge the mighty British power but the soldiers persisted. They forced their way into the palace and proclaimed Bahadur Shah Zafar as their leader. Bahadur Shah Jafar II did not declare himself as head of the revolt.
• Statement 2nd is correct: After the Battle of Buxar (1764) Company treated the defeated Mughal emperor with respect, because of his continuing symbolic significance in eighteenth-century Indian politics. Indeed, not before 1857 the British ever formally repudiated the sovereignty of the Mughal emperor.