RAS question
The first war of Indian Independence (1857) — who described it as such?
Correct answer: (C) V.D. Savarkar.
V.D. Savarkar described the 1857 revolt as The Indian War of Independence in his 1909 book of that name.
Explanation
V.D. Savarkar’s 1909 book was titled The Indian War of Independence, 1857. Encyclopaedia Britannica notes that, while studying law in London, Savarkar wrote the book and presented the Indian Rebellion of 1857 as the first expression of Indian mass rebellion against British colonial rule. This nationalist framing made 1857 “the first war of Indian Independence”. Savarkar’s framing contrasts with other labels: the British called it a Sepoy Mutiny, Karl Marx saw it as a national revolt, and R.C. Majumdar rejected both extreme interpretations.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) R.C. Majumdar is wrong because he rejected both extremes rather than describing 1857 as The Indian War of Independence.
- (B) Jawaharlal Nehru is wrong because he discussed 1857 later but did not coin or use that label.
- (D) Karl Marx is wrong because he saw 1857 as a national revolt, not as The Indian War of Independence.
Concept
The historiography of the Revolt of 1857 labels the same event differently through nationalist, colonial and later historical interpretations. RAS Modern Indian History often covers not only what happened, but how major writers interpreted it.