The British retake Delhi

After a long siege, Delhi fell and the last Mughal emperor was captured.

Key points for UPSC

• British forces stormed Delhi from 14 September 1857 and held the city by 20 September.
• Bahadur Shah Zafar surrendered at Humayun's Tomb on 21 September; British officer William Hodson took him prisoner and shot three Mughal princes.
• He was tried in 1858 and exiled to Rangoon, ending the Mughal dynasty.

Who was involved

• Bahadur Shah Zafar · taken prisoner

Test yourself

1. 1. Where did Bahadur Shah Zafar surrender in 1857?

   • (a) Humayun's Tomb
   • (b) Red Fort
   • (c) Qutub Minar
   • (d) Jama Masjid
   Show answer

   (a) Humayun's Tomb. He had taken refuge at Humayun's Tomb, where he surrendered.

2. 2. Which British officer captured Bahadur Shah Zafar?

   • (a) William Hodson
   • (b) Hugh Rose
   • (c) Colin Campbell
   • (d) Henry Lawrence
   Show answer

   (a) William Hodson. Hodson took him prisoner and later shot three Mughal princes.

3. 3. The fall of Delhi in 1857 meant the end of:

   • (a) The Mughal dynasty
   • (b) The Maratha Peshwas
   • (c) The Sikh kingdom
   • (d) The Nawabs of Bengal
   Show answer

   (a) The Mughal dynasty. With Zafar's exile the Mughal dynasty ended.