Correct Option
The correct option is 1 and 3 only.
Explanation
In the early months of 1857, prior to the outbreak of the rebellion, a mysterious phenomenon involving the rapid circulation of chapattis (flatbreads) occurred across villages in North India. This event is categorized under the rumors and prophecies that generated a psychological atmosphere conducive to the revolt.
Statement-wise Analysis
- Statement 1 is Correct: The standard procedure for this circulation involved a person delivering a chapatti to the village watchman (chowkidar) with specific instructions to bake five more and distribute them to the watchmen of the next villages. This chain-reaction method allowed the movement to cover vast distances in a short period.
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: While the British officials were aware of the phenomenon and were alarmed by it, they were baffled regarding its true meaning. They did not clearly understand it as a signal for the uprising; interpretations varied from it being a measure against cholera to a religious observance. The ambiguity of the signal was a source of anxiety for the administration, not clarity.
- Statement 3 is Correct: The unexplained and rapid transmission of the chapattis created a widespread atmosphere of restlessness, mystery, and fear across the countryside. It signaled to the rural population that an unusual event was imminent, thereby heightening the anticipation of a major upheaval.
Key Takeaway: The chapatti movement was a significant but enigmatic precursor to the Revolt of 1857, serving to mobilize psychological tension across North India, though its precise purpose remained unintelligible to the British at the time.