Topic 13.9 · History · Revolt of 1857

Important Leaders

The revolt threw up a remarkable set of leaders, most drawn from the dispossessed aristocracy. Nana Saheb, the adopted son of the last Peshwa, organised the rising at Kanpur; his able commander Tantia Tope led guerrilla warfare across Central India. Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi became the iconic warrior queen, dying in battle near Gwalior.

In Awadh, Begum Hazrat Mahal led the revolt in the name of her son; in Bihar, the 80-year-old Kunwar Singh of Jagdishpur fought the British with great vigour; and in Delhi, General Bakht Khan commanded the sepoys under the nominal leadership of Bahadur Shah Zafar. Sahib Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah and Firuz Shah were prominent in Awadh and Rohilkhand.

Important Facts

Nana Saheb: Kanpur — adopted son of Baji Rao II
Rani Lakshmibai: Jhansi — died fighting at Gwalior, 1858
Kunwar Singh: Arrah, Bihar — aged 80 during the revolt
Begum Hazrat Mahal: Lucknow — led on behalf of Birjis Qadr
Tantia Tope: Guerrilla commander of Nana Saheb
Bakht Khan: Led the sepoys at Delhi

Key Points

Most leaders were of the displaced ruling class, not peasants
Leaders fought separately — there was no unified command
Rani Lakshmibai and Tantia Tope were the last to resist, into 1858
Bahadur Shah Zafar gave the revolt political legitimacy but was a figurehead

Important Names

Nana SahebTantia TopeRani LakshmibaiBegum Hazrat MahalKunwar SinghBakht KhanMaulvi Ahmadullah ShahBahadur Shah Zafar

Important Dates

17 June 1858	Rani Lakshmibai died at Kotah-ki-Serai, Gwalior
1859	Tantia Tope captured and executed

Exam-Oriented Notes

»Leader ↔ centre ↔ role is the highest-yield memory work for this chapter.
»Tantia Tope is remembered for guerrilla tactics; Kunwar Singh for old-age valour.