Lord Dalhousie Influence On India

WAR OF INDEPENDENCE(1857) Lord Canning succeeded Lord Dalhousie as the next governor-general of India in 1856. When Dalhousie retired the people took a sigh of relief. Dalhousie, because of his autocratic and expansionist style, left behind a people simmering with discontent. The Muslims were the most affected in that they felt that they have been badly treated. It is true that originally the Muslims and felt that they had snatched the sub-continent from them. They had therefore, treated the Muslims with undue severity. The annexation of Sindh and Oudh, the utterly humiliating position of the last emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar, who lived on a small pension rankled in the minds of all Muslims. The Hindus

As regards the political cause, Dalhousie’s ‘DOCTRINE OF LAPSE’ and annexation of the territories of the native rulers which created feelings of uneasiness and suspicion throughout India. The Punjab was annexed in 1849. The Raja off Satara died in 1848 and Dalhousie did not recognize the adoption of son made by the Raja before his death and annexed the state of Satara under the ‘DOCTORINE OF LAPSE’. The Raja of Nagpur died in 1853. Dalhousie also did not recognize the adopted son and the British Resident took possession of the territory. The Ruler of Jhansi died in 1853 and Dalhousie refused to recognize his adopted son and annexed the state. The Britishers treacherously attacked and annexed the Kingdom of Oudh and its 80,000 strong army was disbanded. These annexations gravely enraged the people and angered the soldiers of English East India Company. Most of the soldiers came from Oudh. The British Government confiscated the estates of a majority of the Taluqdars or Zamindars who became the opponents of the British rule in India. The annexation of Oudh was not resented by the Muslims only but also by the other rulers of India. It developed a sense of despair among the people who became uncertain of their

The Leaders issued proclamation and condemned the Englishmen. They appealed to their brethren to join the holy war against the English who stood condemned by the Sunnah and the sastras. British after securing power in India started to spread Christianity in India. They opened many monasteries, from where they propagated Christianity. They also interfered in local religions. They made a law according to which anyone who changes his religion will get his due share in his father’s property. According to Hindu Law anyone who changes religion will lose the right to get his share from his father’s property. Then in 1829 British banned suttee. The most famous immediate religion cause, which sparked the war of Independence 1857 was the Greased Cartridge incident. British introduced a new cartridge, which had to be opened by mouth. This cartridge was greased for the purpose of water proofing with the fat of cow and pig. Pig is forbidden in Islam and Cow is sacred for Hindus. So Hindus and Muslims refused to use those