V. Answer the following questions:
(i) What was the 'Doctrine of Lapse'? Why did the Indian rulers become suspicious of the East India Company?
Answers
i) DOCTRINE OF LAPSE :
• Doctrine of Lapse was an annexation policy introduced by the then governor general, Lord Dalhousie.
• It was introduced in the year 1853.
• According to Doctrine of Lapse, the kingdom with out any natural heir is annexed.
• In simple words, if a king doesn't have any own baby then after the king's dealth the kingdom is annexed by British.
• Through this policy many kingdoms were annexed in India.
• Kingdoms like Satara, Jhansi, Nagpur etc were annexed through this doctrine.
• Doctrine of Lapse of one of the major reasons for the Revolt of 1857.
ii) Answer :
The Indian rulers became suspicious of East India for the following reasons :
• As, the East India company slowly started to annexed kingdoms.
• At first it was setup in Surat but it started setting up in different areas.
• East India company started annexing the kingdoms through the trade policies.
• One of the major annexation was annexation of Bengal in Battle of Plassey.
• East India company annexed most of the kingdoms till 1857.
• After 1857 revolt the power of East India company changed and the crown rule of England started.
• Hence, the native rulers become suspicious of East India company.
What was Doctrine of Lapse?
The policy of Doctrine of Lapse was designed by Lord Dalhousie.
It was introduced in 1853.
It stated that if an Indian ruler died without a male successor, the kingdom would end and hence would come under the control of the Company.
Many kingdoms were occupied by the Company by implementing this doctrine.
Why did the Indian rulers become suspicious of the East India Company?
Indian leaders became suspicious of east India company because , it has started to gain importance and started to set up its control over the country.
East India company had annexed most of the kingdoms till 1857.
Indian rulers feared that , it would rule the country.