what reforms did Dalhousie bring about
Answers
Answer:
Under the reign of Lord Dalhousie (1848-56), they adopted the policy of doctrine of Lapse .
According to this policy, the rulers who does not have any legal heir could not pass on their property to the adopted son and it would be taken over by British.
Satara (1848), Sambhalpur (1850), Jhansi (1854) were annexed by this policy.
Answer:
The accession of Lord Dalhousieinaugurated a new chapter in the history of British India. He functioned as the Governor-General of India from 1848-1856.
He belonged to an aristocratic family of Scotland. Earlier he had served as the President of the Board of Trade. He is regarded as one of the greatest Governor-General of India.
His eight years rules are full of important events in every sphere.
He was great both in war and peace. He introduced a number of reforms which paved the way for the modernisation of India and also earned the title, “Maker of the Modern India”. He believed that, “the promotion of civilization meant the promotion of western reforms, that western administration and western institutions were as superior to Indian as Western arms had proved more potent.”
Administrative Reforms:
Dalhousie’s chief aim was the consolidation of British rule in India. So he adopted the principle of centralization. For the newly acquired territories he devised the ‘Non-Regulation System” under which commissioners were appointed to deal with the administrative problems.
They were made responsible to the Governor-General in the Council. He handed over all other powers relating to justice, police, and land revenue to the District Magistrates. Dalhousie also made provision for the appointment of a Lieutenant Governor of Bengal. By the Parliamentary Act of 1853, the Governor-General was relieved of his functions as the governor of Bengal.
Military Reforms:
ADVERTISEMENTS:
After the conquest of Punjab, Sindh and Avadh, the frontiers of the company were extended and the military interest of India was transferred to the North. Thus Dalhousie shifted the headquarters of the Bengal Artillery from Calcutta to Meerut. The army head-quarter was also transferred to Shimla so that the army could remain is touch with Governor-General who resided is Shimla.
Dalhousie also ordered for the general movement of troops from around Calcutta and from the lower provinces of Bengal towards the west. He could clearly foresee that the future safety of India depended upon the numerical strength of the army and on the maintenance of balance between British and Indian forces.
After some reduction in the strength of the Indian element the army stood at 2, 23,000 men in 1856, as against 45,000 Europeans. As he had no confidence in the Indians, a new Gurkha regiment was created. A new “Irregular Force” was also formed and posted in Punjab. These regiments proved to be of great assistance to the British during the revolt of 1857-58.
Railway Reforms:
Dalhousie introduced a new system of internal communication in India. He was the father of Indian Railways. Dalhousies’ famous Railway Minute of 1853 convinced the home authorities of the need of the railways and laid down the main lines of their development.
