Question

Identify the person mentioned in the following statements :
(I) He lived in a large village in pargana Barout in Uttar Pradesh
(II) He belonged to a clan of Jat Cultivators
(III) He mobilized the headmen and cultivators against the British
(IV) He was killed in battle in July 1857

• A. Danka Shah
• B. Gonoo
• C. Shah Mal
• D. Kadam Singh

Answer 1

Answer:

C. Shah Mal

Shah Mal: A Key Figure in the 1857 Revolt

• Background: Shah Mal belonged to a clan of Jat cultivators and lived in a large village in pargana Barout (also spelled Baraut) in present-day Baghpat district, Uttar Pradesh. This region was strategically important during the Revolt due to its proximity to Delhi.
• Role in the Revolt of 1857: Shah Mal emerged as a prominent local leader during the Sepoy Mutiny/Revolt of 1857. He effectively mobilized the headmen (chaudharis) and cultivators of 84 villages in the Barout region.
• Resistance against British Rule: He organized the local population to resist British authority, often resorting to destroying government buildings, disrupting communication lines, and seizing control of local administration. His actions were a direct challenge to the East India Company's rule in the region.
• Tactics and Objectives: Shah Mal's objective was to establish local self-rule and revert to a pre-British agrarian order, where land revenue was collected by local chiefs. He managed to sever British communication links between Meerut and Delhi and even established a bridge over the Yamuna River to facilitate movement and supply.
• Demise: Shah Mal was killed in a significant battle with British forces in July 1857. His death was a major blow to the local rebellion in the Baghpat region.
• Significance: His leadership exemplifies the widespread nature of the 1857 Revolt, which was not just a sepoy mutiny but also involved large sections of the peasantry and local zamindars, often driven by economic grievances and a desire to restore traditional systems.
• Other Local Leaders: The Revolt saw many such local leaders like Shah Mal, who, though not nationally renowned, played crucial roles in their respective regions, demonstrating the broad-based anti-British sentiment.