Which of the following statements are correct about the annexation of Awadh?
(A) The Subsidiary Alliance was imposed on Awadh in 1856.
(B) The British annexed Awadh as the region was ideally located to be developed into the principal market of upper India.
(C) Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, the Nawab of Awadh, was dethroned and exiled on the charge of misgoverning the region.
(D) The removal of the Nawab led to the prosperity of musicians, dancers, poets, artisans, cooks, retainers and others.
(E) When the Nawab of Awadh left Lucknow, there were many who followed him all the way to Kanpur, singing songs of lament.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → (B), (C), (E) Only
(A) The Subsidiary Alliance was imposed on Awadh in 1856. Incorrect. The Subsidiary Alliance had been imposed on Awadh in 1801. The year 1856 is when the kingdom was formally annexed to the British Empire.
(B) The British annexed Awadh as the region was ideally located to be developed into the principal market of upper India. Correct. The British felt that the soil of Awadh was good for producing indigo and cotton, and that the region was ideally located to be developed into the principal market of Upper India.
(C) Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, the Nawab of Awadh, was dethroned and exiled on the charge of misgoverning the region. Correct. Wajid Ali Shah was dethroned and exiled to Calcutta on the plea that the region was being misgoverned.
(D) The removal of the Nawab led to the prosperity of musicians, dancers, poets, artisans, cooks, retainers and others. Incorrect. It did the opposite. The removal of the Nawab led to the dissolution of the court and its culture, and a whole range of people – musicians, dancers, poets, artisans, cooks, retainers – lost their livelihood.
(E) When the Nawab of Awadh left Lucknow, there were many who followed him all the way to Kanpur, singing songs of lament. Correct. The Nawab was widely loved, and when he left his beloved Lucknow, there were many who followed him all the way to Kanpur singing songs of lament.
NCERT (2026-27): “2.1 ‘A cherry that will drop into our mouth one day’ … The conquest happened in stages. The Subsidiary Alliance had been imposed on Awadh in 1801. By the terms of this alliance the Nawab had to disband his military force, allow the British to position their troops within the kingdom, and act in accordance with the advice of the British Resident who was now to be attached to the court. Deprived of his armed forces, the Nawab became increasingly dependent on the British to maintain law and order within the kingdom. He could no longer assert control over the rebellious chiefs and taluqdars. In the meantime the British became increasingly interested in acquiring the territory of Awadh. They felt that the soil there was good for producing indigo and cotton, and the region was ideally located to be developed into the principal market of Upper India.… 2.2 ‘The life was gone out of the body’ … Here, Nawab Wajid Ali Shah was dethroned and exiled to Calcutta on the plea that the region was being misgoverned. The British government also wrongly assumed that Wajid Ali Shah was an unpopular ruler. On the contrary, he was widely loved, and when he left his beloved Lucknow, there were many who followed him all the way to Kanpur singing songs of lament.… 2.2 ‘The life was gone out of the body’ … The removal of the Nawab led to the dissolution of the court and its culture. Thus a whole range of people – musicians, dancers, poets, artisans, cooks, retainers, administrative officials and so on – lost their livelihood.…” |