What impact did Bahadur Shah Zafar’s support to the rebellion have in the people and the ruling families?

Though the rebels were determined to bring the east India Company’s rule in the country to an end, they were faced with the question as who would rule the land once British were thrown out of the country. The answer to this question lay in Red fort, in Delhi. When the rebel forces reached Delhi Red fort Bahadur shah was reluctant to take on the might of British. However, he had to give in, and was proclaimed the leader of the rebels.

Bahadur Shah Zafar’s decision to bless the rebellion changed the entire situation and it had the following impacts:

1) People felt inspired and enthused. It gave them courage, hope and confidence to act.

2) The emperor wrote the letters to the small rulers and chieftain of the country to come forward against the British rule in India.

3) Regiment after regiment mutinied and took off to join other troop at nodal points like Delhi, Kanpur and Lucknow.

4) Nana Saheb, the adopted son of the late Peshwa Baji Rao gathered armed forces and expelled the British garrison from the city. He declared himself that he was a governor under Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar.

5) Birjis Qadr, the son of the deposed Nawab Wajid Ali Shah was made the new Nawab in Lucknow. He too acknowledged the suzerainty of Bahadur Shah Zafar.