question_answer

Read the following extract carefully and answer the questions that follow:

Escaping to the countryside

This is how the famous poet Mirza Ghalib described what the people of Delhi did when the British forces occupied the city in 1857.

Smiting the enemy and driving him before them, the victors (i.e., the British) overran the city in all directions. All whom they found in the street they cut down..... For two to three days every road in the city, from the Kashmir Gate to Chandni Chowk, was a battlefield. Three gates the Ajmeri, the Turcoman and the Delhi were still held by the rebels ... At the naked spectacle of this vengeful wrath and malevolent hatred the colour fled from men's faces, and a vast concourse of men and women..... Took to precipitate flight through these three gates. Seeking the little villages and shrines outside the city, they drew breath to wait until such time as might favour their return.

(i) Who was Mirza Ghalib' What did he describe'

(ii) Why did British attack Delhi? Give two reasons.

(iii) How did the people escape from Delhi and where did they take shelter?

 

Answer:

(i) Mirza Ghalib the famous Urdu poet who described what the people of Delhi did when the British forces occupied the city in 1857.

(ii) (a) To control the rebellion in the army, after the mutiny broke out in East India and became a mass uprising in many parts of country.

(b) A group of rebellions entered Delhi and after a little fighting, they took control over the red fort and wanted to crown Bahadur Shah Zafar. In order to control these rebellions, British army entered Delhi and for two to three days killed everyone whoever was seen on road from Kashmir gate to Chandni Chowk.

(iii) As the three gates, the Ajmeri Gate, Turkman gate and Delhi gate were in control of rebels, the people who saw with naked spectacle of this vengeful wrath and malevolent hatred, a vast concourse of men and women fled through these three gates. Seeking the little villages and shrines outside the city, wherever they could found safe shelter.