Previous Year Question
Who was the leader of rebellion in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh during 1857?
Hazarat Mahal
Nana Saheb
Khan Bahadur Khan
Kunwar Singh
Correct Answer: C
Detailed Solution
Khan Bahadur Khan provided the principal leadership to the Revolt of 1857 in Bareilly and the Rohilkhand region.
Khan Bahadur Khan Rohilla was a descendant of the famous Rohilkhand ruler Hafiz Rahmat Khan. When the uprising spread in 1857, he assumed leadership against British authority at Bareilly and organised the local rebels.
On 31 May 1857, Khan Bahadur Khan declared independence at Bareilly and established his own government there. Bareilly was a major centre of Rohilkhand, and under his leadership British administration was temporarily displaced from the region.
He provided not only military leadership but also attempted to administer Bareilly. In order to secure wider social support for the uprising, he paid particular attention to maintaining unity between Hindus and Muslims.
In 1858, the British army launched an extensive military campaign to regain control over Rohilkhand. Bareilly was recaptured by the British in May 1858, after which Khan Bahadur Khan withdrew with his soldiers.
He subsequently moved towards Nepal, where he was captured and later handed over to the British authorities.
The other options were associated with different centres of the uprising. Begum Hazrat Mahal was principally associated with Lucknow, Nana Saheb with Kanpur, and Kunwar Singh with Jagdishpur in Bihar.