Who among the following was believed to be a leader of the Sanyasis and Fakirs conspiring against the British in 1857 ?

Nana Sahib, the adopted son of Peshwa Baji Rao II, was a central figure in the 1857 Revolt at Kanpur [2]. Historical accounts, including those by V.D. Savarkar, suggest that Nana Sahib and his associates, such as Azimullah Khan, engaged in extensive secret planning before the outbreak. This planning involved traveling across Northern India to coordinate with various groups, including Sanyasis and Fakirs, to spread the message of rebellion against British rule. While the Sanyasi and Fakir rebellions were primarily 18th-century phenomena [3], the British believed that these religious mendicants acted as emissaries and conspirators for leaders like Nana Sahib in 1857 to incite sepoys and the rural population. Nana Sahib's leadership was driven by the British refusal to continue his father's pension, turning him into a staunch enemy of the Company [4].

Sources

1. [1] Modern India ,Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.)[Old NCERT] > Chapter 8: The Revolt of 1857 > MODERN INDIA > p. 144
2. [2] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 7: The Revolt of 1857 > Summary > p. 186
3. [3] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 6: People’s Resistance Against British Before 1857 > Important Civil Uprisings > p. 140
4. [4] Modern India ,Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.)[Old NCERT] > Chapter 8: The Revolt of 1857 > MODERN INDIA > p. 136