Read the following passage and the questions that follow.

The revolt of 1857 was much more than a mere product of sepoy discontent. It was in reality a product of accumulated grievances against the company's administration. popular discontent and hatred against foreign rule. The most important cause was economic exploitation. the complete destruction of its traditional economic fabric. the impoverishment of the vast mass of peasants. artisans and handicraftsmen as also a large number of traditional zamindars and chiefs. As a result of the British land and revenue policies and the system of Judicial administration. a large number of peasant proprietors lost their land to traders and money-lenders and found themselves in utter debt. In addition. the common people were hard hit by corruption even at the lower levels of administration. The complex judicial system enabled the rich to oppress the poor. and the growing poverty made them desperate. The middle and upper classes of Indian society suffered by their exclusion from Inger positions in the administration. Displacement of Indian rulers led to the loss of patronage to the men of arts and culture and also to the religious preachers — pandits and Maulvis. who played an important role in spreading discontent against the government. Besides. Lord Dalhousie’s policy of annexation of native states by applying the ‘Doctrine of Lapse’ was widely resented. Lastly. the conversion activities by the Christian missionaries created fear and suspicion among the general public.