why was bahadur shah jafar was choosen as the leader of revolt 1857?
Answers
Explanation:
The fact behind Bahadur Shah Zafar being declared their leader by the rebels is that no rebels were ready to become the leader. ... So, the rebels marched towards Delhi and declared Bahadur Shah Zafar as the Emperor of India, though he was not very popular, powerless and very old also.
Answer:
Symbolism was the only reason why Bahadur Shah Zafar was made the leader of the 1857 revolt.
Delhi Symbolism:- For very long Delhi became the symbol of power in the medieval India. So it was natural for the sepoys, who mutinied, to reach Delhi first. The only option available in Delhi was Bahadur Shah Zafar in the Red fort and thus the sepoys stormed into the fort. The last old Mughal Emperor was not interested in challenging the British might. But, with the sepoys all around him, he was forced to be the leader of the revolt.
Mughal Symbolism:- Nana Sahib, Jhansi Laxmi Bai etc., were influencial in small kingdoms. An independence movement needs a leader who can unite various factions in the then country. Mughal empire was able to do that before the advent of the British. So, it was rightly expected that all other chieftains can lay allegiance to the Mughal.