Which region was called the 'nursery of the Bengal Army', because a large number of the Company's sepoys were recruited from there?

Awadh (Oudh) was called the "nursery of the Bengal Army", because a large number of the sepoys of the English East India Company's Bengal Army were recruited from the villages of Awadh.

Why Awadh?

Many of the sepoys came from the families of upper-caste peasants (such as Brahmins and Rajputs) in the villages of Awadh and eastern Uttar Pradesh.

They had close ties with their families and villages, and were affected by events in the countryside.

NCERT on Awadh:

• NCERT notes that Awadh was called the "nursery of the Bengal Army".
• The sepoys' grievances and those of the peasantry were linked, because the sepoys were peasants in uniform.
• What happened in the villages affected the sepoys, and vice versa.
• NCERT notes that the annexation of Awadh and the removal of the Nawab, Wajid Ali Shah, created emotional upheaval.
• The Nawab was popular, and his removal was seen as an insult; many people mourned his exile to Calcutta.
• The taluqdars (landholders) of Awadh lost their lands and power under the new British revenue settlement (the Summary Settlement), which tried to deal directly with the peasants.
• The sepoys were also unhappy about their low pay, the difficulty of getting leave, and the rules about serving overseas.

Awadh in the Revolt:

• Awadh became one of the main centres of the Revolt.
• NCERT notes that in Awadh, the Revolt became a popular rebellion, with the participation of taluqdars, peasants and soldiers.
• Begum Hazrat Mahal, the wife of Wajid Ali Shah, led the rebels at Lucknow, in the name of her son Birjis Qadr.
• The British Residency at Lucknow was besieged for several months.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Punjab became a major recruiting ground for the army only after 1857.
• ✗Bihar and Rohilkhand also supplied soldiers, but Awadh was the main "nursery".