Which of the following statements are correct?

(A) Bell of arms was a store room in which weapons were kept.

(B) The army of Awadh supported the British.

(C) Firangi is a term of Persian origin applied to the British by the rebels.

(D) The 7th Awadh Irregular Cavalry accepted the new cartridges in early May.

(E) Local leaders emerged, urging peasants, zamindars and tribals to revolt.

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

The correct option is (A), (C) and (E) only.

Let us analyze each statement to understand why this combination is correct:

Statement (A): Bell of arms was a store room in which weapons were kept.
This statement is correct. Historically, a "bell of arms" refers to a building, storeroom, or tent used for storing weapons and ammunition in military cantonments.

Statement (B): The army of Awadh supported the British.
This statement is incorrect. The kingdom of Awadh (Oudh) was a major center of the Indian Rebellion of 1857. The annexation of Awadh by the British in 1856 caused widespread resentment among the local population and sepoy soldiers, many of whom were recruited from Awadh. Consequently, they rose in rebellion against British rule rather than supporting them.

Statement (C): Firangi is a term of Persian origin applied to the British by the rebels.
This statement is correct. "Firangi" (originally derived from "Frank," referring to Europeans) is a Persian term that was used in India to refer to foreigners, and during the 1857 uprising, it was specifically used by the rebels to refer to the British in a derogatory or hostile manner.

Statement (D): The 7th Awadh Irregular Cavalry accepted the new cartridges in early May.
This statement is incorrect. In early May 1857, the sepoys of the 7th Awadh Irregular Cavalry refused to use the newly introduced greased cartridges, which they believed contained cow and pig fat. This refusal was one of the early triggers of mutiny in the region.

Statement (E): Local leaders emerged, urging peasants, zamindars and tribals to revolt.
This statement is correct. The uprising of 1857 was not just a military mutiny but spread to civil populations. Various local leaders, such as Shah Mal in Barout (Uttar Pradesh) and Gonoo in Singhbhum (Chhotanagpur), mobilized local peasants, zamindars, and tribal groups to join the rebellion against the British authority.

Therefore, statements (A), (C), and (E) are correct, confirming that the third option is the right answer.