Why did the mutinous sepoys in many places turn to erstwhile rulers to provide leadership to the revolt?
(a) To fight the British, leadership and organisation was required. For this reason rebels turned to the erstwhile rulers.
(b) One of the first acts of the sepoys was to visit Delhi and pressurise the Mughal emperor to become their leader.
(c) When he reluctantly complied, the revolt acquired a kind of legitimacy because it could now be carried on in the name of the Mughal Emperor.
(d) In Kanpur the people and sepoys gave Nana Sahib no choice but to join the revolt. In Jhansi also the Rani gave in to popular pressure.
(e) In Lucknow (Awadh) the people celebrated the outbreak of the revolt by hailing Birjis the son of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah as their leader.
What were the measures taken to ensure unity among the rebels?
Discuss the extent to which religious beliefs shaped the events of 1857.
What steps did the British take to quell the uprising?
Discuss the evidence that indicates planning and coordination on the part of the rebels.
