Q. In the aftermath of the revolt of 1857, Governor General Lord Canning remarked that a group of individuals acted as the breakwaters to the storm which would have otherwise swept the British rule in one great wave. Which of the following groups was he referring to?
Answer: Rajas and Big Zamindars
Notes: Most rulers of the Indian states and the big zamindars refused to join the revolt of 1857. Some, like Sindhia, Holkar, Nizam, Raja of Jodhpur, Nawab of Bhopal, etc. and a large number of big zamindars gave active help to the British in suppressing the revolt. In fact, not more than one per cent of the chiefs of India joined the revolt. Even though the big zamindars of Awadh had joined the revolt, they abandoned it once the government gave them assurance that their estates would be returned to them. Governor General Lord Canning later remarked that these rulers and chiefs had acted as the breakwaters to the storm which would have otherwise swept the British rule in one great wave.

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