Read the following Passage and answer the questions The wirters who profess to write the history of the Revolution that was enacted in India in 1857 do not try to discuss the real causes that led to it. On all great religious and political revolutions it is impossible to connect together the links apparently inconsistent without thoroughly understanding the principles which are at work. Mazzini in a critical article on Carlyle's French Revolution has said that every revolution must have a fundamental principle. A revolutionary movement cannot be based on flimsy and momentary grievances. What types of mistakes the English authors have committed in writing the history of Revolutionary war. Their accounts have been based on misleading and unjust ideas one which changes or distorts the whole spirit of Revolution is the device of The English historian of namely describing the rumour of greased cartridges as the moving cause of the Revolt. Equally misleading is the theory that the rising was due to the annexation of Oudh. The great principles were Swadharma and Swaraj. In the thundering room of 'Din Din' which rose to protect religion when there were evident signs of cunning, dangerous and disruptive attack on religion dearer than life and in terrific blows dealt at chains of slavery with holy desire of acquiring Swaraj. In the proclamiation of the establishment of Swaraj. The emperor of Delhi says, Hindus and Mohomedans of India, Arise Brethren of all the gifts of God the most gracious is the gift of God.
Which amongst the following was the moving cause of the Revolt?
Greased cartridges
Analyzing the Causes of the 1857 Revolution
The passage discusses the historical accounts of the Indian Revolution of 1857, critiquing the reasons often cited by English historians. It highlights the author's view that true revolutions stem from fundamental principles, not just minor grievances.
Understanding the Passage's Critique
The author specifically challenges two common explanations for the 1857 Revolt presented by English historians:
- The rumour of greased cartridges.
- The annexation of Oudh.
According to the passage, these are described as "misleading and unjust ideas" that "distort the whole spirit of Revolution." The author argues that the real, fundamental principles behind the revolt were Swadharma (one's religion/duty) and Swaraj (self-rule).
Evaluating the Given Options
The question asks to identify the "moving cause of the Revolt" among the provided options. Let's examine each option in light of the passage:
- Option 1: Annexation of Oudh - The passage mentions this theory but dismisses it as "Equally misleading." While it was a contributing factor, the author doesn't present it as the fundamental moving cause.
- Option 2: Social Reform - The passage does not explicitly mention social reforms as a moving cause discussed in this context.
- Option 3: Construction of Railways - The passage does not mention the construction of railways as a cause of the revolt.
- Option 4: Greased cartridges - The passage states that English historians described the "rumour of greased cartridges as the moving cause of the Revolt." Although the author of the passage disagrees with this being the *real* or *fundamental* cause, the passage acknowledges that this was presented by others (English historians) as the "moving cause."
Identifying the Moving Cause Based on the Passage and Options
The passage explicitly identifies the "rumour of greased cartridges" as what "The English historian" described as the "moving cause." Given the options, and acknowledging the perspective attributed to English historians within the text, the greased cartridges rumour is the cause mentioned in the passage as being cited as the "moving cause," even if the author disputes its fundamental importance.
Therefore, based on the way the passage presents the theories attributed to English historians and the options provided, the greased cartridges rumour aligns with what the passage describes as being cited as the moving cause.
Step-by-Step Analysis
- Read the question carefully: It asks for the "moving cause" from the options based on the passage.
- Scan the passage for mentions of causes of the 1857 Revolution.
- Identify the specific theories mentioned as being presented by English historians: greased cartridges and annexation of Oudh.
- Note how the passage characterizes each mentioned theory. The greased cartridges rumour is called the "moving cause" *by English historians* according to the passage. The annexation of Oudh is called "Equally misleading."
- Compare the mentioned theories with the provided options.
- The option "Greased cartridges" directly corresponds to the theory mentioned in the passage as being presented as the "moving cause" by English historians.
This leads to the conclusion that "Greased cartridges" is the correct answer among the choices, as it is the only option explicitly identified in the passage as a theory cited (by English historians) as the "moving cause."
| Potential Cause | Mentioned in Passage? | Characterization in Passage |
|---|---|---|
| Annexation of Oudh | Yes | "Equally misleading" theory |
| Social Reform | No (not as a primary cause discussed here) | - |
| Construction of Railways | No | - |
| Greased cartridges | Yes | Described as the "moving cause of the Revolt" by English historians (though author disagrees with its fundamental importance) |
Revision Table: Key Concepts from the Passage
| Concept | Description/Context in Passage |
|---|---|
| 1857 Revolution | The historical event discussed, its history writing is critiqued. |
| Real Causes (according to author) | Swadharma and Swaraj; fundamental principles. |
| Causes Cited by English Historians | Greased cartridges rumour, annexation of Oudh. Characterized as misleading. |
| Swadharma | Protecting religion; described as dearer than life. |
| Swaraj | Acquiring self-rule; breaking chains of slavery. |
Additional Information on 1857 Revolt Causes
While the passage presents a specific argument about the fundamental causes (Swadharma and Swaraj) versus the cited causes (greased cartridges, Oudh annexation), historians generally agree that the 1857 Revolt was a result of multiple, interconnected factors. These included:
- Political Causes: Annexation policies (like the Doctrine of Lapse), ill-treatment of Indian rulers, and loss of power/privilege for many elites.
- Economic Causes: Exploitation of resources, destruction of traditional Indian industries, high land revenue demands, and impoverishment of peasants and artisans.
- Social and Religious Causes: Perceived interference with religious customs (e.g., abolition of Sati, Widow Remarriage Act), fear of conversion to Christianity, and social discrimination.
- Military Causes: Dissatisfaction among Indian sepoys regarding pay, allowances, promotion, and terms of service. The greased cartridges incident acted as the immediate trigger that ignited the simmering discontent.
The rumour about the cartridges greased with animal fat offensive to both Hindus (cow fat) and Muslims (pig fat) directly challenged the religious beliefs of the sepoys, leading to widespread outrage and mutiny. While perhaps not the sole or deepest cause, it was undoubtedly the spark that initiated the violent uprising across North India.
Important Questions from French Revolution and ahead
The 'Reign of Terror' in revolutionary France referred to
Which of the following statement(s) is/are true for Olympe de Gouges?
1. She was one of the most important politically active woman in revolutionary France.
2. She was one of the members of the Committee that drafted the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen.
3. She wrote the Declaration of the Rights of Woman and Citizen.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
In which battle was Napoleon defeated?
Artist Frederic Sorrieu, who painted the idea of Democracy and Social Republic, belonged to which country?
Which one of the following combinations of year and event concerning the French Revolution is correctly matched?
