The correct option is Awadh.
Explanation
The recruitment policy of the British East India Company for the Bengal Army differed significantly from that of the Madras and Bombay Armies. The Bengal Army was composed largely of high-caste Hindus (Brahmins and Rajputs) recruited from specific regions in North India.
Detailed Analysis
Awadh (also spelled Oudh) was the principal recruitment ground for the Bengal Army. The region provided such a large number of soldiers that it earned the epithet "nursery of the Bengal Army."
- Recruitment Base: It is estimated that nearly 75,000 sepoys in the Bengal Army were from Awadh. Every agricultural family in the region had at least one member serving in the army.
- Impact of Annexation: When Lord Dalhousie annexed Awadh in 1856 on the grounds of maladministration, it caused deep resentment among the sepoys. The annexation deprived the soldiers of their privileged status and increased the tax burden on their families back home.
- Connection to the Revolt: This strong connection between the peasantry of Awadh and the sepoys meant that the grievances of the soldiers were directly linked to the grievances of the rural population, turning the 1857 mutiny into a general popular rebellion in this region.
Why other options are incorrect:
- Punjab: The Sikhs and Punjabis were recruited in large numbers only after the Revolt of 1857, as part of the British policy to counterbalance the "martial races" against the rebellious Bengal troops.
- Madras Presidency: The Madras Army had a mixed caste composition and remained largely loyal during the revolt.
Key Takeaway
Awadh was known as the "nursery of the Bengal Army" due to the heavy recruitment of high-caste sepoys from the region. The annexation of Awadh in 1856 was a major cause of discontent leading to the Revolt of 1857.