Question map
Name the rebel who fought against the British in the battle of Chinhat in the course of the 1857 Revolt ?
Explanation
The rebel leader who fought against the British in the Battle of Chinhat was Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah, also known as the 'Maulvi of Faizabad' [3]. On June 30, 1857, the British forces under Sir Henry Lawrence suffered a significant defeat at Chinhat (near Lucknow) at the hands of the rebels led by Ahmadullah Shah [3]. He was elected as the leader by the mutinous 22nd Native Infantry and was renowned for his courage, with many followers believing he possessed magical powers [3]. While other leaders like Shah Mal (Baghpat), Kunwar Singh (Bihar), and Mangal Pandey (Barrackpore) were pivotal to the 1857 Revolt, it was Ahmadullah Shah who commanded the revolutionary forces during this specific engagement in the Awadh region [2]. He continued to be a 'Lighthouse of Rebellion' until his death in June 1858 [3].
Sources
- [1] THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART III, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 10: REBELS AND THE RAJ > Discuss... > p. 284
- [3] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 7: The Revolt of 1857 > Summary > p. 186
- [2] THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART III, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 10: REBELS AND THE RAJ > Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah > p. 263