Q. Which of the following statements with regard to the tribal freedom fighter Veer Surendra Sai is/are correct?
1.He led a prolonged guerrilla-style resistance movement against British rule utilizing tribal combatants primarily from the Ho and Santhal communities.
2.His armed rebellion resurged during the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 after the British applied the Doctrine of Lapse to annex the princely state of Sambalpur.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Answer: B
Notes:
Detailed Explanation:
- Statement 1 is incorrect: Veer Surendra Sai was a prominent tribal leader born into the Chauhan royal family of Sambalpur, Odisha. The indigenous communities he organized into guerrilla forces were the Binjhal and Gond tribes of western Odisha, not the Ho and Santhal.
- Statement 2 is correct: When the ruler of Sambalpur died without a direct male heir, the British East India Company applied the aggressive Doctrine of Lapse to annex the state in 1849, ignoring Sai’s legitimate claim. This grievance caused Sai to relaunch a fierce rebellion during the 1857 uprising, mobilizing local landlords (Zamindars) and village leaders (Gauntias).
