Lord Dalhousie

Lord Dalhousie (1848-56)

1. Introduced the policy of ‘Doctrine of Lapse’ or Law of Escheat’ which postulated that Indian states having no natural heir would be annexed to the British Empire. The Indian states thus annexed were Satara (1848), Jaitpur and Sambhalpur (1849), Baghat (1850), Udaipur (1852), Jhansi (1853), and Nagpur (1854).

2. Introduced the system of centralised control in the newly acquired territories known as “Bon-Regulation System”.

3. Introduced Wood’s dispatch known as the Magna Carta of English education in India prepared by Charles Wood, the President of the Board of Control in 1854. It suggested a scheme of education from the primary to the university level. Also recommended opening of many colleges.

4. The Dispatch recommended the establishment of Anglo-ver-nacular schools in districts, government colleges in important towns and universities in presidency towns and introduction of vernacular language as medium of instruction. This system is based on the Thompsonian system.

5. The establishment of Universities of Calcutta, Madras and Bombay (all in 1857) was also based on the Woods’ Recommendations.

6. An Engineering College was set up in Roorkee (presently in Uttarakhand).

7. Boosted up the development of railways-laid the first railway line in 1853 from Bombay to Thane and second from Calcutta to Raniganj.

8. Gave a great impetus to post and telegraph services. Telegraph lines were laid (first line from Calcutta to Agra in 1853).

9. Organised a separate Public Works Department by divesting the Military Board of this power.

10. Started the works of the Grant Trunk Road. It was based on the ancient road constructed by Sher Shah in the 16th century.

11. Shimla was made summer capital and army head quarter.

12. Hindu Remarriage Act was passed in 1856, making widow re-marriage legal.

13. Annexed Awadh in 1856 on excuse of misgovernment when Nawab Wajid Ali Shah refused to abdicate.

14. In 1853, recruitment of the covenanted civil service started through competitive examination.

15. Post Office Act was passed in 1854. Postage stamps were issued for the first time in 1853.

16. Santhal uprising took place in 1855.

17. Abolition of the title of Nawab of Carnatic. He also abolished many titles and pensions of former native rulers.

18. Whole Punjab was annexed in 1849 after second Anglo Sikh war (1848-49)

19. Lower Burma (Pegu) was annexed after second Burmese war (1853)

20. The Charter Act of 1853 threw open the Civil Services to a competition for the citizens of the empire. Till then, the Civil Servants were nominated by the Directors of the East India Company. The system was known as patronage.