Which of the following were the reasons for the failure of the Revolt of 1857?
- 1. The military superiority of the British
- 2. The rebels did not have a unified programme and ideology
- 3. There was a lack of support from all the sections of society
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
- AOnly 1 and 2
- BOnly 2 and 3
- CAll of the above
- DNone of the above
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: (c) All of the above
Explanation
The main reason for the failure of the Revolt of 1857 was the lack of a common plan and a central organization. No spirit of organization was seen among the rebel leaders. The 82-year-old Bahadur Shah was weak, and his call to various chiefs was not sufficient. The rebels certainly showed bravery and appeared determined to destroy the government, but they completely lacked a planned and unified programme to do so. They also lacked discipline. At times, they behaved like a rioting mob rather than a disciplined army. Except for a shared hatred towards foreign rule, there was no other binding link among the leaders. After uprooting British authority from a particular region, they did not even know what kind of political power or institutions should be established in its place. They lacked a future-oriented programme, coherent ideology, political perspective, or a clear vision of a future society and economy.