He was tried and sentenced to life imprisonment in Rangoon.
Explanation
The recapture of Delhi by British forces in September 1857 marked a decisive turning point in the suppression of the revolt. The treatment of the Mughal Emperor, who had been proclaimed the leader of the uprising, signaled the formal end of the Mughal dynasty.
Analysis of Options:
- He was executed by firing squad in Delhi. is Incorrect: Bahadur Shah Zafar was not executed. However, his sons and grandson were captured and publicly shot dead by Lieutenant Hudson at the Khooni Darwaza in Delhi.
- He was exiled to Nepal. is Incorrect: Leaders such as Nana Saheb and Begum Hazrat Mahal refused to surrender and escaped to Nepal. Bahadur Shah Zafar did not flee; he took refuge at Humayun's Tomb before surrendering to the British.
- He was tried and sentenced to life imprisonment in Rangoon. is Correct: Bahadur Shah Zafar was tried by a British military commission on charges of treason, conspiracy, and rebellion. He was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment. He was subsequently exiled to Rangoon (Burma) along with his wife, Begum Zeenat Mahal. He died there in November 1862.
- He was allowed to remain as a nominal ruler in the Red Fort. is Incorrect: The British government decided to abolish the Mughal imperial title completely. He was removed from the Red Fort and stripped of all authority, rather than being retained as a nominal ruler.
Key Takeaway:
The Revolt of 1857 resulted in the trial and deportation of Bahadur Shah Zafar to Rangoon, bringing a definitive legal and political end to the Mughal Empire.