Which one of the following statements about the Revolt of 1857 is correct?

The Revolt of 1857 was characterized by a strong sense of communal unity. Rebel proclamations, known as ishtahars, repeatedly appealed to all sections of the population, irrespective of their caste and creed [1][5]. Even proclamations issued by Muslim princes took care to address Hindu sentiments, often harking back to a pre-British past of coexistence under the Mughal Empire [1]. For instance, Bahadur Shah's proclamation appealed to people to fight under the standards of both Muhammad and Mahavir [1]. Conversely, the revolt was not a pre-planned conspiracy by elites; many leaders like Bahadur Shah initially rejected the rebellion and were forced into leadership by sepoys [2]. Rumours and prophecies, such as those regarding greased cartridges and the centennial of the Battle of Plassey, played a critical role in mobilizing the masses [5]. Finally, the British struggled for months to regain control, facing widespread defiance [4][5].

Sources

1. [1] THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART III, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 10: REBELS AND THE RAJ > 3.1 The vision of unity > p. 271
2. [5] https://deshbandhucollege.ac.in/pdf/resources/1585676294_HS(H)-VI-lec9.pdf
3. [2] THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART III, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 10: REBELS AND THE RAJ > Sisten and the tahsildar > p. 261
4. [4] https://ncert.nic.in/textbook/pdf/lehs302.pdf