Identify the kingdom which was described by the Governor-General Lord Dalhousie as, “a cherry that will drop into our mouth one day”?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Awadh
In 1851 Governor-General Lord Dalhousie described the kingdom of Awadh as “a cherry that will drop into our mouth one day”. Five years later, in 1856, Awadh was formally annexed to the British Empire and its Nawab, Wajid Ali Shah, was dethroned and sent to Calcutta. The conquest came in stages, beginning with the Subsidiary Alliance imposed on Awadh in 1801.
Note: A same/similar question was asked in CUET (UG) in the papers below.
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
| 11-05 S2 | 26-05 S1* | – | – | – |
* A similar question.
NCERT (2025-26): “2.1 ‘A cherry that will drop into our mouth one day’ … In 1851 Governor General Lord Dalhousie described the kingdom of Awadh as ‘a cherry that will drop into our mouth one day’. Five years later, in 1856, the kingdom was formally annexed to the British Empire. The conquest happened in stages. The Subsidiary Alliance had been imposed on Awadh in 1801.…” |