Kanpur rises under Nana Saheb
· Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh
The adopted son of the last Peshwa led the revolt at Kanpur.
Key points for UPSC
- Nana Saheb was the adopted son of the exiled Peshwa Baji Rao II; the British refused to continue his father's pension.
- Sepoys at Kanpur rose in June 1857 and besieged the British entrenchment; Nana Saheb took the lead.
- Tantia Tope, his commander, became one of the revolt's most skilled generals; Azimullah Khan was his adviser.
Who was involved
- Nana Saheb · leading the revolt
- Tantia Tope · commanding Nana Saheb's forces
Test yourself
1. Nana Saheb was the adopted son of:
- (a) Peshwa Baji Rao II
- (b) Bahadur Shah Zafar
- (c) Wajid Ali Shah
- (d) Maharaja Ranjit Singh
Show answer
(a) Peshwa Baji Rao II. He was adopted by Baji Rao II, the last Peshwa.
2. A major grievance of Nana Saheb against the British was:
- (a) The refusal to continue his father's pension
- (b) The partition of Bengal
- (c) The salt tax
- (d) The Ilbert Bill
Show answer
(a) The refusal to continue his father's pension. The Company refused to pay him Baji Rao II's pension.
3. Who was Nana Saheb's leading general?
- (a) Tantia Tope
- (b) Bakht Khan
- (c) Kunwar Singh
- (d) Khan Bahadur Khan
Show answer
(a) Tantia Tope. Tantia Tope commanded his forces and fought on after Kanpur fell.