Consider the following statements about the annexation of Awadh in 185...
Background:
The annexation of Awadh in 1856 was a significant event in the history of British India. Awadh, also known as Oudh, was a princely state located in present-day Uttar Pradesh. The annexation was carried out by the British East India Company, under the governorgeneralship of Lord Dalhousie.
Statement 1: It was annexed under the governor-generalship of Lord Dalhousie on grounds of misgovernance.
This statement is correct. Lord Dalhousie, who served as the Governor-General of India from 1848 to 1856, played a crucial role in the annexation of Awadh. The British justified the annexation on the grounds of misgovernance and maladministration by the Nawab (ruler) of Awadh, Wajid Ali Shah. The British accused Wajid Ali Shah of being incompetent and corrupt in his governance, leading to widespread economic and social problems in the state.
Statement 2: Wajid Ali Shah was the ruler of Awadh at the time of its annexation.
This statement is also correct. Wajid Ali Shah was the ruler of Awadh when it was annexed by the British in 1856. He ascended the throne in 1847 after the death of his father, and his reign was marked by extravagance and a passion for arts and culture. However, his alleged mismanagement and inability to address the issues in his state provided the British with an opportunity to intervene and eventually annex Awadh.
Conclusion:
Both statements 1 and 2 are correct. The annexation of Awadh took place under the governorgeneralship of Lord Dalhousie due to the misgovernance of Wajid Ali Shah, who was the ruler of Awadh at the time. This event had significant consequences for the people of Awadh and played a role in shaping the course of Indian history during the British colonial era.
Consider the following statements about the annexation of Awadh in 185...
Awadh remained an independent entity till 7 February 1856 when Lord Dalhousie annexed it to the British Empire in India. In simple terms, the doctrine stated that the adopted son could be the heir to his foster father's private property, but not the state; it was for the paramount power (the British) to decide whether to bestow the state on the adopted son or to annex it. The doctrine was stated to be based on Hindu law and Indian customs, but Hindu law seemed to be somewhat inconclusive on this point, and the instances of an Indian sovereign annexing the state of his vassal on account of ‘lapse‘ (i.e., leaving no issue as heir) were rather rare. Annexation of Awadh: Lord Dalhousie was keen on annexing the kingdom of Awadh. But the task presented certain difficulties. For one, the Nawabs of Avadh had been British allies since the Battle of Buxar, Moreover, they had been most obedient to the British over the years. The Nawab of Avadh had many heirs and could not, therefore, be covered by the Doctrine of Lapse. Some other pretext had to be found for depriving him of his dominions. Finally, Lord Dalhousie hit upon the idea of alleviating the plight of the people of Avadh. Nawab Wajid Ali Shah was accused of having misgoverned his state and of refusing to introduce reforms. His state was therefore annexed in 1856. Hence both statements 1 and 2 are correct. Undoubtedly, the degeneration of the administration of Avadh was a painful reality for its people. The Nawabs of Avadh, like other princes of the day, were selfish rulers absorbed in self-indulgence who cared little for good administration or for the welfare of the people. But the responsibility for this state of affairs was in part that of the British who had at least since 1801 controlled and indirectly governed Avadh. In reality, it was the immense potential of Awadh as a market for Manchester goods that excited Dalhousie's greed and aroused his “philanthropic‟ feelings. And for similar reasons, to satisfy Britain's growing demand for raw cotton, Dalhousie took away the cotton-producing province of Berav from the Nizam in 1853
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