The conservative leader who described the revolt of 1857 as 'National Revolt', was

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 4:

Benjamin Disraeli, a prominent British Conservative politician and future Prime Minister, was the key figure who described the Revolt of 1857 as a "National Revolt" rather than a mere sepoy mutiny in the British Parliament. Disraeli argued that the upheaval was a result of long-standing grievances and administrative failures by the East India Company, which had alienated the Indian princes, religious leaders, and common people. His classification challenged the official British narrative that downplayed the widespread nature of the revolt. By labeling it a "National Revolt," he implied a broader, popular basis for the uprising, signaling a serious political crisis that went beyond military indiscipline. This description was controversial but highlighted the scale and political significance of the events in India to the British public and government.

The incorrect option is 1:
James Outram was a British general who actively served in India during the revolt. Along with other British military figures, he generally dismissed the revolt as a conspiracy fueled by religious frenzy, specifically referring to it as a 'Mohammedan conspiracy based on Hindu grievances.'

The incorrect option is 2:
T. R. Holmes was a British historian and contemporary writer. He categorized the 1857 Revolt primarily as a conflict between civilization (British rule) and barbarism (the rebels), emphasizing the absence of widespread nationalistic feeling at the time.

The incorrect option is 3:
W. Taylor was a British official and author known for his historical writings on the revolt. His perspective, much like Outram's, tended to view the uprising as a military mutiny that had been exploited by dissatisfied local elements, not a unified national movement.