SarkariPYQ

SSC Selection Post 2020 PYQ — Question 29

SSC Selection Post - Graduation Level 2020 - 9 Nov 2020 - Shift 2 • General Awareness • Q29

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During the course of the Great Revolt of 1857, the leadership at Delhi was nominally in the
hands of Bahadur Shah, but the real control was exercised by:

Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: D

Explanation

The correct answer is Option 4 i.e. General Bakht Khan.

  • During the course of the Great Revolt of 1857, the leadership at Delhi was nominally in the hands of Bahadur Shah, but the real control was exercised by General Bakht Khan.

  • General Bakht Khan served as a Subedar (chief native commanding officer) in the East India Company army at Bareilly. When the Indian Rebellion of 1857 began with the sepoy mutiny, the uprising soon spread to Bareilly. There, the sepoys hailed Bakht Khan as their general due to his leadership and experience.

  • Bakht Khan took charge and marched with his army towards Delhi to aid the Mughal army. On his arrival, Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah II appointed him as the commander of the Sepoy army and conferred on him the title of Sahab-e-Alam Bahadur.

  • Although Mirza Zahiruddin was the nominal commander-in-chief, he lacked military expertise. As a result, the real authority and operational command lay with General Bakht Khan. While Bahadur Shah II was the symbolic leader, it was Bakht Khan who exercised actual control over the rebel forces in Delhi during the uprising.