Which of the following events marked the formal end of the Mughal Empire after the First War of Independence?

The Correct answer is The exile of Bahadur Shah Zafar to Rangoon (now Yangon).

Key Points

• The First War of Independence in 1857, also known as the Sepoy Mutiny or the Indian Rebellion of 1857, marked a significant moment in India's colonial history.
• Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last Mughal Emperor, was considered the symbolic leader of the rebellion. However, his role was largely titular, as the real leadership of the revolt was fragmented and decentralized.
• After the British forces recaptured Delhi in September 1857, Bahadur Shah Zafar was arrested, tried for treason, and subsequently exiled to Rangoon (now Yangon) in Burma (Myanmar).
• The exile of Bahadur Shah Zafar in 1858 marked the formal end of the Mughal Empire, which had already been in decline since the late 17th century.
• Following his exile, the British formally declared that the Mughal dynasty had been abolished, and they took direct control of India under the British Crown through the Government of India Act 1858.
• The exile of Bahadur Shah Zafar was a turning point, symbolizing the end of centuries of Mughal rule and the beginning of a new phase in India's history under British colonial rule.
• Bahadur Shah Zafar spent the last years of his life in Rangoon, where he died in 1862. His grave remains a site of historical significance.

 Additional Information

• The fall of Delhi
  • The fall of Delhi in September 1857 was a key event during the First War of Independence, but it did not mark the formal end of the Mughal Empire.
  • The British forces captured Delhi after a prolonged siege, which symbolized the collapse of the rebellion in North India.
• The British annexation of Bengal
  • The annexation of Bengal happened much earlier, in 1757, after the Battle of Plassey, and is unrelated to the formal end of the Mughal Empire.
  • This event marked the beginning of British dominance in India, not the end of the Mughal rule.
• The signing of the Treaty of Lahore
  • The Treaty of Lahore was signed in 1846 after the First Anglo-Sikh War, which led to the annexation of parts of Punjab by the British.
  • It is unrelated to the Mughal Empire or the First War of Independence.