Which of the following statements about the Sanyasi and Faqir disturbances/rebellions are correct? 1. Governor-General Warren Hastings faced the persistent Sanyasi and Faqir disturbances in Bengal and Bihar. 2. There were a number of Shaivite Naga Sanyasis who formed into armed bands. 3. Majnu Shah, who led bands into Bengal from 1771, was their prominent leader. Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- A.1 and 2 only
- B.1, 2 and 3
- C.2 and 3 only
- D.1 and 3 only
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is B, 1, 2 and 3. All three statements correctly describe the Sanyasi and Faqir risings in late 18th-century Bengal and Bihar.
After the Battle of Plassey and the grant of Diwani in 1765, heavy revenue demands and the terrible Bengal famine of 1770 hurt peasants and wandering ascetics alike. Bands of Hindu sanyasis, many of them Shaivite Dashnami Naga ascetics who carried arms, and Muslim faqirs of the Madari order were also angered by restrictions on their visits to holy places. They raided Company factories and treasuries. Warren Hastings, who governed Bengal from 1772 and became Governor-General in 1774, struggled against them for years. Majnu Shah, the best-known faqir leader, led raids into Bengal from 1771 until his death in 1786, and Bhawani Pathak and Debi Chaudhurani were other leaders.
A is wrong because it leaves out statement 3, which is correct. C is wrong because it leaves out statement 1, also correct. D is wrong because it drops statement 2, though Naga sanyasis did form armed bands.
Exam tip: Sanyasi-Faqir revolt: 1770s Bengal–Bihar, Majnu Shah, Bhawani Pathak; portrayed in Bankim Chandra's Anandamath.
Practice Questions
View allWho were the Nayanars?
- A.Those who were immersed in devotion to Vishnu
- B.Those who were devotees of Buddha
- C.Leaders who were devotees of Shiva
- D.Leaders who were devotees of Basveshwara
Show answer
The Nayanars were Tamil saint-poets of the early Bhakti movement who worshipped Shiva. Between about the 6th and 9th centuries CE, the Nayanars travelled from temple to temple in the Tamil country singing hymns in praise of Shiva.
Read the full explanation →Which one of the following statements about the grammarian Katyayana is correct ?
- A.He was a contemporary of Panini.
- B.He was a contemporary of Patanjali.
- C.He belonged to a period between Panini and Patanjali.
- D.He belonged to a period later than both Panini and Patanjali.
Show answer
Katyayana commented on Panini's grammar, and Patanjali in turn commented on both Panini and Katyayana. Panini wrote the Ashtadhyayi, the foundational Sanskrit grammar of about 4,000 sutras, around the 5th or 4th century BCE.
Read the full explanation →Chronologically arrange the following treaties/conventions signed between the Marathas and the British (starting with the earliest): 1. Treaty of Salbai 2. Treaty of Purandar 3. Convention of Wadgaon 4. Treaty of Surat Select the correct answer using the code given below :
- A.4-2-3-1
- B.4-3-2-1
- C.1-3-2-4
- D.1-2-3-4
Show answer
All four belong to the First Anglo-Maratha War: Surat (1775), Purandar (1776), Wadgaon (1779) and Salbai (1782). In 1775 the Bombay government signed the Treaty of Surat with Raghunathrao, promising to put him in power as Peshwa in return for Salsette and Bassein.
Read the full explanation →Arrange the following events associated with Shivaji in chronological order : 1. Attack on Afzal Khan 2. Capture of Torna 3. Attack on Shaista Khan 4. Annexation of Javli Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- A.2, 4, 1, 3
- B.4, 2, 1, 3
- C.1, 2, 3, 4
- D.3, 1, 2, 4
Show answer
Shivaji took Torna first, then Javli, then killed Afzal Khan, and later raided Shaista Khan's camp. In 1646, still a teenager, Shivaji captured the fort of Torna from the Bijapur Sultanate, his first major conquest.
Read the full explanation →Which of the following statements about the Law Commission headed by Lord Macaulay is/are correct? 1. It attempted to codify the laws. 2. It was opposed to uniform system of Courts. Select the correct answer using the code given below :
- A.1 only
- B.2 only
- C.Both 1 and 2
- D.Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer
The Law Commission under Macaulay set out to codify Indian law, and it was not opposed to a uniform system of courts.
Read the full explanation →