UPSC Prelims 2005 Q54: Modern History – Advent Of Europeans & British Expansion
Which one of the following places did Kunwar Singh, a prominent leader of the Revolt of
1857, belong to?
- (a) Bihar
- (b) Madhya Pradesh
- (c) Rajasthan
- (d) Uttar Pradesh
Answer: (a) Bihar
Explanation
Kunwar Singh
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Home | Jagdishpur, Arrah district, Bihar |
| Role | Led the revolt in Bihar in 1857 at age about 80 |
| Notable act | Defeated British forces near Arrah; died in April 1858 |
| Other options | Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh are not his home State |
Kunwar Singh was a zamindar of Jagdishpur in Bihar who led the 1857 revolt there.
Answer: (a) Bihar.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) CORRECT. Kunwar Singh belonged to Jagdishpur in Bihar.
- (b) Incorrect. Madhya Pradesh had Tantia Tope's operations.
- (c) Incorrect. Rajasthan was largely quiet in 1857.
- (d) Incorrect. Uttar Pradesh had other leaders like Lakshmibai and Nana Sahib.
Key point
1857 leaders: Kunwar Singh (Bihar), Nana Sahib (Kanpur), Lakshmibai (Jhansi), Begum Hazrat Mahal (Lucknow).
Remember
Kunwar Singh of Jagdishpur led the revolt in Bihar.
Common mistakes
- Placing Kunwar Singh in Uttar Pradesh because the revolt was centred there.
- Mixing him up with Nana Sahib of Kanpur.
- Forgetting that he was about 80 years old at the time.
Exam tip
Kunwar Singh: Bihar, Jagdishpur, Arrah.
Sources
- Bipan Chandra — Modern India
- NCERT Class XII History — Themes in Indian History Part III — Rebels and the Raj: 1857 Revolt and its Representations
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — Kunwar Singh