Declaration of Bahadur Shah Zafar II as the last Mughal Emperor

The correct answer is option 'B', Lord Canning. Lord Charles Canning was the Governor-General of India during the period from 1856 to 1862. He played a significant role in the history of the Mughal Empire and the declaration of Bahadur Shah Zafar II as the last Mughal Emperor. Here is a detailed explanation of this answer:

Background:
- The Mughal Empire was in decline during the 18th and 19th centuries.
- The British East India Company had gained significant power and influence in India during this period.
- The Mughal Emperors, who once ruled over a vast empire, were reduced to figureheads with limited authority.

Role of Lord Canning:
- Lord Canning became the Governor-General of India in 1856, during a time of political unrest and rebellion known as the Indian Rebellion of 1857 or the Sepoy Mutiny.
- The rebellion, which began among Indian soldiers in the British East India Company's army, quickly spread across large parts of northern and central India.
- Bahadur Shah Zafar II, the last Mughal Emperor, was seen as a symbol of resistance by the rebels.
- Lord Canning realized that by declaring Bahadur Shah Zafar II as the last Mughal Emperor, he could undermine the rebels' cause and their claims of legitimacy.

Declaration:
- In September 1857, Lord Canning issued a proclamation known as the "Proclamation of 1858".
- This proclamation declared that Bahadur Shah Zafar II was the last Mughal Emperor and that the Mughal dynasty had come to an end.
- By making this declaration, Lord Canning aimed to weaken the rebels' support and discredit their cause.
- This proclamation also symbolized the end of the Mughal Empire and the complete dominance of the British East India Company in India.

Aftermath:
- The Indian Rebellion of 1857 was eventually suppressed by the British, and the power of the Mughal Empire was eradicated.
- Bahadur Shah Zafar II was captured by the British and exiled to Burma (present-day Myanmar), where he died in 1862.
- Lord Canning's declaration marked the end of the Mughal Empire and the beginning of British colonial rule in India.

In conclusion, Lord Canning, as the Governor-General of India, declared Bahadur Shah Zafar II as the last Mughal Emperor through the "Proclamation of 1858". This declaration aimed to undermine the rebels' cause during the Indian Rebellion of 1857 and marked the end of the Mughal Empire.