The British became increasingly interested in acquiring "a cherry that will drop into our mouth one day". This refers to the annexation of which Indian territory by British colonial rulers?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Awadh
In 1851 Governor-General Lord Dalhousie described the kingdom of Awadh as “a cherry that will drop into our mouth one day”. Awadh was rich and fertile, and its land was good for cotton and indigo, and the British waited for a pretext. In 1856 they annexed it, accusing Nawab Wajid Ali Shah of misgovernment and sending him into exile in Calcutta; the anger this caused made Awadh a major centre of the revolt of 1857.