Comprehension

What taluqdars thought 
The attitude of the taluqdars was best expressed by Hanwant Singh, the Raja of Kalakankar, near Rae Bareli. During the mutiny, Hanwant Singh had given shelter to a British officer, and conveyed him to safety. While taking leave of the officer, Hanwant Singh told him:
Sahib, your countrymen came into this country and drove out our King. You sent your officers round the districts to examine the titles to the estates. At one blow you took from me lands which from time immemorial had been in my family. I submitted. Suddenly misfortune fell upon you. The people of the land rose against you. You came to me whom you had despoiled. I have saved you. But now – now I march at the head of my retainers to Lucknow to try and drive you from the country.

Question: 1

How did Hanwant Singh express his dissatisfaction towards the British?

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Hanwant Singh's words reflect the broader sentiments of resistance to British oppression, especially regarding land and authority.
Updated On: Jan 14, 2026
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Solution and Explanation

Hanwant Singh voiced his grievance against the British, citing the injustices inflicted upon him and his community. He specifically referenced the confiscation of ancestral lands. Additionally, he articulated his outrage by declaring that after rescuing a British officer, he now intended to expel the British from the nation with his followers, signifying his profound animosity toward their conduct.
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Question: 2

Who did Hanwant Singh refer to as ‘‘the people of the land’’?

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"The people of the land" refers to the peasants who, after suffering from British policies, joined the rebellion during the mutiny of 1857.
Updated On: Jan 14, 2026
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Solution and Explanation

Hanwant Singh identified the region's peasants and commoners as ‘‘the people of the land.’’ These individuals were the local inhabitants who resisted the British forces, demonstrating their united discontent and opposition to British dominion.
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Question: 3

How did Hanwant Singh’s statement reflect the sentiments of the taluqdars?

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The taluqdars were often dispossessed of their land, which led to a growing resentment against the British, culminating in their support for the 1857 uprising.
Updated On: Jan 14, 2026
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Solution and Explanation

Hanwant Singh's words voiced the feelings of the taluqdars, who believed British policies had deprived and disgraced them. The taluqdars had been stripped of their lands and authority by British land revenue strategies and other actions. Singh's initial endorsement of the British officer, followed by his choice to oppose the British, demonstrates the fury and the shift in their stance from collaboration to defiance. This underscores the taluqdars' growing animosity towards British governance during the 1857 uprising.
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