When and why was Oudh annexed bu Lord Dalhousie?
Answers
Oudh was annexed in 1856 on the 'pretext of alleged misrule'.
He ed explaned it by saying "Good of the governed".
Oudh during the time of British is known as Awadh in present time.
In the year 1849, a report was made by Sleeman on the conditions of Oudh. He remarked the foloowing points and presented it to the Court of Directors:
● people killed their female children and sometimes buried them alive.
● Lucknow was in perpetual turmoil of processions, illuminatons and festivities.
● The conditions of the peasantries were miserable in Oudh.
● The King wasn't able to take care of his state.
● the administration in the state was a massacre and was corrupted.
Lord Dalhousie suggested to the Court of Directors that King Wajid Ali Shah should be allowed to retain his title but the stte should be taken over by the Company .The Court considered his proposal and directed him to do so.
King Wajid Ali Shah refused the offer of Lord Dalhousie due to shich he was deposed and sent to Calcutta. This annexation of Oudh was a blunder as the Sepoys of Oudh created problems for the British in the Revolt of 1857.
Due to this annexation, British injured their reputation in the eyes of Indians.