Q. Early signals of the Revolt of 1857 in late January 1857 became visible when rumours started circulating among sepoys of which place that the cartridges of the new rifle had been greased with cow and pig fat?
(a) Dum Dum, near Calcutta
(b) Dum Dum near Oudh
(c) Dum Dum near Delhi
(d) Dum Dum near Karnataka
Ans: (a) Dum Dum, near Calcutta
Explanation: The correct answer is (a) Dum Dum, near Calcutta. In late January 1857, the early signals of the Revolt of 1857 became visible when rumours started circulating among sepoys at Dum Dum, near Calcutta, that the cartridges of the new rifle they were issued had been greased with cow and pig fat. This sparked religious sensitivities among both Hindu and Muslim sepoys, as the use of animal fat was offensive to their religious beliefs. The controversy surrounding the greased cartridges played a significant role in igniting discontent and laying the groundwork for the wider rebellion that unfolded later in 1857.