Indian Response to British Rule: History Optional PYQs

Peasant movements and tribal uprisings in the 18th and 19th centuries Including the Rangpur Dhing (1783), the Kol Rebellion (1832), the Mopla Rebellion In Malabar (1841-1920), the Santal Hul (1855), Indigo Rebellion (1859-60), Deccan Uprising (1875) and the Munda Ulgulan (1899- 1900); The Great Revolt of 1857 – Origin, character, causes of failure, the consequences; The shift In the character of peasant uprisings In the post-1857 period; the peasant movements of the 1920s and 1930s.

PYQs: Indian Response to British Rule [1985-2024]

1. “On the whole, it is difficult to avoid the conclusion that the so-called First National War of Independence was neither First, nor National, nor a War of Independence.” Comment in about 200 words. (1985)
2. ‘The roots of Moplah discontent were clearly agrarian….’. Comment in about 200 words. (1986)
3. ‘It is sometimes asked by Ruling Chiefs, as well as by the public in India and in Europe what our policy towards Native States is. I can tell you that the basis of the policy was laid in Queen Victoria’s Proclamation of 1858 and repeated in the Coronation message of His Majesty the King Emperor.’ Comment in about 200 words. (1986)
4. ‘The British endeavoured as far as possible to live within a Ring-Fence and beyond that they avoided intercourse with the chiefs.’ Comment in about 200 words. (1987)
5. Identify the various forms of ‘rural protest in India in the second half of the nineteenth century. Were they expressions of anti-landlord or anti-foreign discontent? (1987)
6. “Whatever might have been its original character, it (Rebellion of 1857) soon became a symbol of challenge to the mighty British power in India.” Comment in about 200 words. (1988)
7. Discuss briefly the tribal revolts in Eastern India from 1817 to 1857. Were they directed against land lordism and colonialism? (1988)
8. ‘If the paramount power cast its imperial cloak over the princes, it was also entitled to see that what was sheltered was in the main creditable.’ Comment in about 200 words. (1989)
9. The roots of the Moplah uprising (1921) were clearly agrarian. Do you agree? (1990)
10. Discuss the origins and character of major peasant and tribal uprisings in the late 18^th and 19th centimes’. Were these protest movements backwards – looking? (1992)
11. “The new attitude of caution and conservatism can detected in almost every sphere of British activity in India after the Revolt of 1857.” Comment.  (1994)
12. Tribal movements should be viewed as “History from below”. Discuss the objectives & nature of the movements in 19th C. India. (1997)
13. Examine the nature of the Revolt of 1857 and indicate the manifold changes in British civil and military administration of India after 1857. (1998)
14. Do you believe that the uprising in 1857 was nationalist in nature? If not, what was its character? (1999)
15. The 1921 Moplah rebellion was”in essence an expression of long – standing agrarian discontent which was intensified by the religious and ethnic identity”. Comment. (2000)
16. Towards the Princes, Canning adopted a policy of “punishing resistance and rewarding obedience”. Comment. (2000)
17. ‘The tribal and peasant rebellion laid the foundation of the revolt of 1857.’ Comment. (2001)
18. ‘Whatever might have been its original character, it (Rebellion of 1857) soon became a symbol of challenge to the mighty British power in India.’ (2005)
19. “The Revolt of 1857 seemed to call the very presence of the British into question. What it did not do was reverse these changes.” Comment. (2007)
20. “The annexation of Awadh shook the loyalty of the Sepoys, as it was for them an ultimate proof of untrustworthiness of the British.” Comment. (2009)
21. “In 1857, the rebal sepoys showed a remarkable centripetal tendency to congregate at Delhi.” Do you agree? Substantiate. (2011)
22. “Tribals revolted more often and far more violently than any other community including peasants to India.” Elaborate. (2011)
23. “The peasant movements of the second half of the nineteenth century lacked a positive conception of an alternative society – a conception which would unite the people in a common struggle on a wide regional and all- India plane and help develop long – term political developments.” Critically examine in 150 words. (2012)
24. “The Santhal hool began in July 1855. The core of the movement was economic, the basic cause of the uprising was agrarian discontent.”- Elucidate. (2012)
25. “The military, feudal and traditional overtones of the Revolt of 1857 were overshadowed by its nationalist or protonationalist character.” Critically examine in 150 words. (2014)
26. Critically examine: “The Indigo Revolt of 1859-60 holds a very significant place in our history of national liberation movement. For the first time in the history of our anti – colonial struggle, its two independent currents- spontaneous peasant resistance and constitutional agitation in defence of the peasantry came into mutual contact.” (2015)
27. Analyze the nature of peasant movements during the nationalist phase and bring out their shortcomings. (2015)
28. “The Mutiny of 1857 was much more than a Mutiny of Sepoys and much less than a National Rebellion.” Comment. (2016)
29. How far is it correct to say that the 19^th century tribal uprisings are a part of subalterns nationalism. (2016)
30. Discuss the nature of peasant movements under the Kisan Sabhas during 1920-1940. (2017)
31. Was the Moplah Rebellion in Malabar an expression of anti-landlord and antiforeign discontent? Discuss. (2018)
32. Critically e x a m i n e: t h e Kol Insurrection was mainly a war of the tribal inhabitants of Chotanagpur against the non-tribal settlers and service-holders.” (2019)
33. For long, the Revolt of 1857, has been mistaken to be a mere mutiny of the Indian sepoys in the Bengal army. However, its causes need to be searched for not only in the dissatisfaction of the army, but in a long drawn process of fundamental social and economic change that upset the peasant communities. Discuss. (2020)
34. Do you feel that the Santhal Hool (rebellion) 1855-56, was the most effective tribal movement in pre-1857 India? (2020)
35. ‘Penetration of outsiders- called dikus by the Santhals- completely destroyed their familiar world, and forced them into action to take possession of their lost territory’. Critically examine. (2022)
36. The British rule had differential impact on the Indian society. Describe in what ways the Indians responded to the Revolt of 1857. (2022)
37. The historical significance of tribal and peasant uprisings in India ‘lies in that they established strong and valuable traditions of resistance to British rule’. Discuss. (2023)
38. The root of the whole question behind the Indigo Revolt ‘is the struggle to make the raiyats grow indigo plants without paying them the price of it’. Analyse. (2023)
39. After 1857, “the peasants emerged as the main force in agrarian movements.” Critically examine. (2023)
40. Why was the Great Revolt of 1857 confined only to North India? How did it change the character of British rule in the subcontinent? Explain. (2024)