On what ground did Lord Dalhousie annex Awadh in 1856, a step that deepened the discontent of 1857?
- A.The Doctrine of Lapse
- B.Alleged misgovernment
- C.Failure to pay the subsidy
- D.Escheat for want of heirs
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is B, alleged misgovernment. Awadh had been a loyal ally of the Company for decades and had an heir, so the Doctrine of Lapse could not be applied; Dalhousie therefore annexed it in 1856 on the plea that it was badly governed, and Nawab Wajid Ali Shah was pensioned off and exiled to Calcutta. The summary settlement that followed dispossessed many taluqdars, which is why Awadh fought so hard in 1857.
Option A is wrong because the Doctrine of Lapse was used against states without a natural heir, as at Jhansi in 1853 and at Satara and Nagpur. Option C is wrong because no default on the subsidy was alleged. Option D is wrong because Awadh had a living ruler and successors.
Read the full article: The Revolt of 1857 in Uttar Pradesh: Centres and Leaders
Practice Questions
View allThe revolt of 1857 began with the rising of the sepoys on 10 May 1857 at which cantonment?
- A.Barrackpore
- B.Meerut
- C.Kanpur
- D.Lucknow
Show answer
On 10 May 1857 the sepoys of the 3rd Light Cavalry at Meerut rose in revolt, released the comrades who had been imprisoned for refusing the greased cartridge, killed their officers and marched on Delhi the next day, where they proclaimed Bahadur Shah Zafar emperor of Hindustan.
Read the full explanation →Mangal Pandey, the sepoy who attacked his officers at Barrackpore in March 1857, belonged to which district of present Uttar Pradesh?
- A.Ballia
- B.Ghazipur
- C.Azamgarh
- D.Jaunpur
Show answer
Mangal Pandey came from Nagwa village in Ballia district of eastern Uttar Pradesh and served in the 34th Native Infantry.
Read the full explanation →Who led the revolt of 1857 at Kanpur?
- A.Tatya Tope
- B.Nana Saheb
- C.Azimullah Khan
- D.Bakht Khan
Show answer
Dhondu Pant, known as Nana Saheb, was the adopted son of the last Peshwa Baji Rao II, and the Company had refused him his father's pension and titles under the Doctrine of Lapse.
Read the full explanation →At Lucknow, Begum Hazrat Mahal led the revolt after proclaiming whom as Nawab of Awadh?
- A.Wajid Ali Shah
- B.Birjis Qadr
- C.Nasiruddin Haidar
- D.Asaf ud Daula
Show answer
Begum Hazrat Mahal, a wife of the deposed Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, had her young son Birjis Qadr proclaimed Nawab of Awadh in 1857 and led the resistance at Lucknow, where the British were besieged in the Residency and the Chief Commissioner Henry Lawrence was killed.
Read the full explanation →Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi was killed in action in June 1858 near which place?
- A.The fort of Jhansi
- B.Kalpi
- C.Kotah ki Serai near Gwalior
- D.Kanpur
Show answer
After Hugh Rose took the fort of Jhansi in April 1858 the Rani escaped, joined Tatya Tope, and with him seized Gwalior from the Scindia's forces.
Read the full explanation →