Modern History Set 17 | MROY Class

Modern History Set 17 – Questions & Answers

Who made the following statement regarding the annexation of Sindh: “We have no right to seize Sindh, yet we shall do so, and a very advantageous, useful, humane piece of rascality it will be”? – Charles Napier
Which British official, serving as the Deputy to Napier during the annexation of Sindh, stated, “I am sick of your policy; I will not say yours is the best, but it is undoubtedly the shortest, that of the sword…”? – James Outram
During the First Anglo-Sikh War (1845–46), the first of the five successive defeats suffered by the Sikhs due to the treachery of their commanders occurred at which location on December 18, 1845? – Mudki
The Battle of Aliwal, a significant engagement during the First Anglo-Sikh War, was fought in which month and year? – January 1846
Under the Treaty of Lahore (March 8, 1846), which specific territorial region between the Beas and the Sutlej rivers was annexed to the Company’s dominions? – Jalandhar Doab
The immediate cause of the Second Anglo-Sikh War (1848–49) was the revolt of Mulraj, who was the governor of which region? – Multan
During the Second Anglo-Sikh War, the Battle of Ramnagar was led by which British Commander-in-Chief? – Sir Hugh Gough
Which battle fought on February 21, 1849, resulted in the final surrender of the Sikh army at Rawalpindi? – Battle of Gujarat
Following the annexation of Punjab in 1849, a three-member board was set up to govern the region. Which of the following was NOT a member of this board? – Sir Hugh Gough
In 1853, the governing board of Punjab was nullified and replaced with a chief commissioner. Who became the first chief commissioner of Punjab? – John Lawrence
Which Indian state was the first to fall into a protection trap that anticipated the Subsidiary Alliance system, by signing a treaty in 1765 to defray the expenses of British defense? – Awadh
In 1787, the Company first insisted that a subsidiary state should not have foreign relations in a treaty signed by Lord Cornwallis with the Nawab of which region? – Carnatic
Which Maratha confederation was the last to accept the Subsidiary Alliance in 1818? – The Holkars
Under Lord Dalhousie’s Doctrine of Lapse, the state of Baghat (located in modern Himachal Pradesh) was annexed in which year? – 1850
Under Lord Dalhousie’s Doctrine of Lapse, the state of Udaipur was annexed in which year? – 1852
The Treaty of Sagauli (1816) allowed the British to acquire sites for hill stations. Which of the following hill stations was acquired as a result of this treaty? – Shimla
During the First Anglo-Burmese War (1824–26), the British expeditionary forces occupied Rangoon and reached within 72 km of which Burmese capital? – Ava
In order to weaken the link between Burmese nationalists and the Indian National Congress, the British separated Burma from India in which year? – 1935
Under the Treaty of Lhasa (1904), the Indian Government was to occupy which valley as a security for the payment of the Tibetan indemnity? – Chumbi Valley
Which Governor-General advocated a “Forward Policy” in 1836, implying that the Company had to take initiatives to protect British India from a probable Russian attack? – Lord Auckland
The disastrous First Anglo-Afghan War (1839–42) cost the British Indian government nearly 20,000 men and approximately what amount of money? – 1.5 crore rupees
Which Viceroy/Governor-General initiated the policy of “Masterly Inactivity” regarding Afghanistan as a reaction to the disasters of the First Afghan War? – John Lawrence
Lord Lytton’s foreign policy regarding Afghanistan, which aimed at safeguarding ‘spheres of influence’ and having scientific frontiers, was known as what? – Proud Reserve
The Viceroy Lord Curzon (1899–1905) followed a policy of withdrawal and concentration on the North-West Frontier. He created the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP), which was previously under the control of the lieutenant-governor of which province? – Punjab
During the Paika Rebellion of 1817, the British expropriation of which ancestral estate belonging to Bakshi Jagabandhu Bidyadhar in 1814 sparked his resentment? – Killa Rorang
In 1803, the East India Company dethroned the Raja of Khurda, which greatly reduced the power and prestige of the Paikas. Who was this Raja? – Mukunda Deva
The fort of Hathras, which was besieged by the British in 1817 due to the rebellion of Dayaram, was considered among the strongest in India and was often referred to as the second what? – Second Bharatpur
In 1831, the Kol Mutiny was sparked by the transfer of land from Kol headmen to outsiders such as Hindu, Sikh, and Muslim farmers. Who led this mutiny? – Buddho Bhagat
Which Governor General created the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) directly under the Government of India? – Lord Curzon
Which Burmese nationalist leader intensified the movement against the British during the Second World War, ultimately leading to Burma’s independence in 1948? – U Aung San

MROY Class

Modern History Set 17

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📌 British Conquests • Sindh

Q.1) Who made the following statement regarding the annexation of Sindh: “We have no right to seize Sindh, yet we shall do so, and a very advantageous, useful, humane piece of rascality it will be”?

Ans > Charles Napier

Context of the Great Game: During the 1840s, British foreign policy was heavily driven by the “Great Game”—a deep paranoia regarding the Russian Empire’s expansion towards Central Asia and India. The British desperately wanted control over the Indus River for strategic military movement and commercial navigation, viewing Sindh as a critical buffer zone.
Unprovoked Aggression: Sir Charles Napier was dispatched to Sindh with overwhelming military force. Despite the ruling Amirs of Sindh having signed treaties of friendship and having assisted the British during the disastrous First Anglo-Afghan War, Napier deliberately provoked them into a military conflict to justify a complete takeover.
The “Humane Rascality”: Napier was fully aware of the sheer immorality of his actions. He explicitly noted in his diary that the British had absolutely no legal or moral right to seize the territory. Nevertheless, he justified the annexation as a “very advantageous, useful, humane piece of rascality,” permanently absorbing Sindh into the Bombay Presidency in 1843.

📌 British Conquests • Sindh

Q.2) Which British official, serving as the Deputy to Napier during the annexation of Sindh, stated, “I am sick of your policy; I will not say yours is the best, but it is undoubtedly the shortest, that of the sword…”?

Ans > James Outram

Role as the British Resident: Major James Outram served as the official British Resident in Sindh. Unlike the aggressive military commanders, he had spent years cultivating relatively positive, diplomatic relationships with the local ruling Amirs of the Talpur dynasty, understanding their internal politics and ensuring their compliance through negotiation rather than force.
Friction with Charles Napier: When Charles Napier arrived with a clear mandate to force a conflict, Outram vehemently opposed the strategy. He believed that the British were blatantly violating established treaties and acting with dishonor. His famous quote highlights his intense disgust for Napier’s ruthless “policy of the sword,” which bypassed all diplomatic avenues.
The Attack on the Residency: Despite his sympathy for the Amirs, Outram’s position forced him to defend the British Residency in Hyderabad when it was eventually attacked by enraged Baluchi tribesmen. His heroic defense earned him the title “The Bayard of India,” though he remained a staunch critic of the annexation long after it was completed.

📌 Anglo-Sikh Wars • Punjab

Q.3) During the First Anglo-Sikh War (1845–46), the first of the five successive defeats suffered by the Sikhs due to the treachery of their commanders occurred at which location on December 18, 1845?

Ans > Mudki

Outbreak of Hostilities: The Battle of Mudki marked the very first major military engagement of the First Anglo-Sikh War. Tensions had boiled over following the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, leading the massive Sikh Khalsa army to cross the Sutlej River into British-controlled territory, which the British immediately declared as an act of war.
The Betrayal of Leadership: The Sikh soldiers fought with incredible bravery and discipline, heavily shocking the British forces commanded by Sir Hugh Gough. However, the Sikh effort was fatally undermined by the deliberate treachery of their own top commanders, Lal Singh and Tej Singh, who were secretly in treasonous communication with the British authorities and deliberately compromised Sikh tactical positions.
Heavy Casualties and Consequences: The battle was incredibly brutal, fought largely in the dust and fading light of the evening. The British suffered severe casualties, including the death of Sir Robert Sale. While the British technically won the field at Mudki, it proved to them that the Sikh Khalsa was the most formidable native army they had ever faced in India.

📌 Anglo-Sikh Wars • Punjab

Q.4) The Battle of Aliwal, a significant engagement during the First Anglo-Sikh War, was fought in which month and year?

Ans > January 1846

Strategic Context: Fought on January 28, 1846, the Battle of Aliwal was a crucial turning point in the First Anglo-Sikh War. The Sikh forces, commanded by Ranjodh Singh Majithia, had recently achieved a tactical victory at Baddowal and were threatening the vital British supply lines and the crucial fort of Ludhiana.
Command of Sir Harry Smith: The British forces were led by Major General Sir Harry Smith. Demonstrating exceptional military maneuvers, Smith successfully intercepted the Sikh army near the village of Aliwal along the Sutlej River. He utilized a perfectly executed cavalry charge by the 16th Lancers to break the deeply entrenched Sikh infantry squares.
Impact on the War: The battle resulted in a decisive and crushing defeat for the Sikh forces. They were driven across the river, losing almost all their artillery and vital supplies. This victory restored shattered British morale and effectively cleared the path for the final, bloody confrontation of the war at the Battle of Sobraon just weeks later.

📌 Treaties • Punjab

Q.5) Under the Treaty of Lahore (March 8, 1846), which specific territorial region between the Beas and the Sutlej rivers was annexed to the Company’s dominions?

Ans > Jalandhar Doab

The Humiliating Settlement: Following the total defeat of the Sikh Khalsa army at the Battle of Sobraon, the British imposed the highly punitive Treaty of Lahore on the young Maharaja Duleep Singh. This treaty was explicitly designed to cripple the military and economic power of the once-mighty Sikh Empire.
Annexation of Jalandhar Doab: A primary condition of the treaty was the forced secession of the Jalandhar Doab (the incredibly fertile territory situated between the Beas and Sutlej rivers). This annexation brought the British frontier directly to the borders of the remaining Sikh state, giving them a massive strategic and economic advantage in the region.
Financial Ruin and Kashmir’s Sale: Furthermore, the treaty demanded a crushing war indemnity of 1.5 crore rupees. Because the Sikh treasury was depleted and unable to pay this massive sum, the British deliberately detached the province of Kashmir from the Sikh Empire and sold it to the Dogra noble Gulab Singh for 75 lakh rupees under the subsequent Treaty of Amritsar.

📌 Anglo-Sikh Wars • Punjab

Q.6) The immediate cause of the Second Anglo-Sikh War (1848–49) was the revolt of Mulraj, who was the governor of which region?

Ans > Multan

The Succession Crisis: Diwan Mulraj succeeded his highly successful father, Sawan Mal, as the governor (Nazim) of the wealthy province of Multan. However, the British-controlled Lahore Durbar demanded an exorbitant succession fee and massively increased the annual revenue demands, putting impossible financial pressure on Mulraj’s administration.
The Spark of Rebellion: Unable to meet these harsh demands, Mulraj submitted his resignation. The British dispatched two officers, Vans Agnew and Lieutenant Anderson, along with a new governor to take charge of the Multan fort. In April 1848, local soldiers, enraged by British interference, assassinated both British officers, prompting Mulraj to lead a full-scale rebellion.
Escalation to National War: What began as a localized uprising in Multan rapidly spread across the entire Punjab. Disgruntled Sikh soldiers, veterans of the Khalsa army who had been disbanded after the First War, rallied behind the rebellion. This widespread nationalistic fervor provided Lord Dalhousie with the perfect pretext to launch the Second Anglo-Sikh War.

📌 Anglo-Sikh Wars • Punjab

Q.7) During the Second Anglo-Sikh War, the Battle of Ramnagar was led by which British Commander-in-Chief?

Ans > Sir Hugh Gough

Opening Engagement: The Battle of Ramnagar (November 1848) was the first major military encounter of the Second Anglo-Sikh War. Sir Hugh Gough, the highly aggressive Commander-in-Chief of the British Indian Army, led his forces to confront the heavily entrenched Sikh army commanded by the brilliant tactician Sher Singh Attariwala.
Tactical Blunders: Sher Singh had strategically positioned his forces across the Chenab River, utilizing the sandy riverbed and deep ravines to his immense advantage. Gough, known for his preference for direct, bloody frontal assaults rather than careful maneuvering, ordered his cavalry to charge blindly into the riverbed, resulting in disastrous consequences.
Losses and Indecisive Outcome: The British suffered humiliating losses in this engagement, including the death of prominent cavalry commanders like Brigadier General Cureton and Lieutenant Colonel Havelock. While tactically indecisive, the battle proved to be a massive morale booster for the Sikh forces, proving they could outmaneuver the British command structure.

📌 Anglo-Sikh Wars • Punjab

Q.8) Which battle fought on February 21, 1849, resulted in the final surrender of the Sikh army at Rawalpindi?

Ans > Battle of Gujarat

The “Battle of Guns”: The Battle of Gujarat (fought in the Punjab region, near the Chenab river) is historically referred to as the “Battle of Guns.” Learning from his previous bloody mistakes at Chillianwala and Ramnagar, Sir Hugh Gough finally relied heavily on massive, sustained artillery bombardment rather than direct infantry charges against the Sikh lines.
Complete Decimation: The superior British artillery completely overwhelmed the Sikh cannons. Following a devastating three-hour barrage, the British infantry advanced, causing the entire Sikh army, including a contingent of Afghan cavalry sent by Dost Mohammad Khan, to collapse and flee in total disarray, marking their absolute defeat.
The Final Surrender: The crushing defeat at Gujarat broke the military spine of the Khalsa. Within weeks, the remaining Sikh commanders, including Sher Singh and Chattar Singh, formally surrendered their swords to the British at Rawalpindi. Consequently, Lord Dalhousie formally annexed the entire Punjab into the British Empire on March 29, 1849.

📌 Administration • Punjab

Q.9) Following the annexation of Punjab in 1849, a three-member board was set up to govern the region. Which of the following was NOT a member of this board?

Ans > Sir Hugh Gough

The Governing Triumvirate: To manage the vast, newly annexed, and highly volatile territory of Punjab, Lord Dalhousie established a unique administrative body known as the Board of Administration. This system was designed to bypass traditional bureaucratic red tape and provide strong, paternalistic governance over the region.
The Board Members: The board was composed of three highly capable civil and political officers: Sir Henry Lawrence (who acted as President and handled political relations with the Sikh aristocracy), his brother John Lawrence (who ruthlessly managed land revenue and finance), and Charles Mansel (who oversaw the administration of justice and police).
Exclusion of the Military: Sir Hugh Gough was purely the military Commander-in-Chief who led the armies during the Anglo-Sikh Wars. Once the military conquest was absolutely complete, civil administration took over. Gough had no role in the political or administrative governance of the newly formed province.

📌 Administration • Punjab

Q.10) In 1853, the governing board of Punjab was nullified and replaced with a chief commissioner. Who became the first chief commissioner of Punjab?

Ans > John Lawrence

Internal Friction: The Board of Administration suffered from intense ideological clashes, primarily between the two brothers. Henry Lawrence was highly sympathetic to the displaced Sikh aristocracy and wanted to protect their remaining privileges. Conversely, John Lawrence fiercely advocated for a heavily centralized administration focused strictly on maximizing revenue and empowering the peasant proprietors.
Dalhousie’s Intervention: The Governor-General, Lord Dalhousie, strongly favored John Lawrence’s cold, pragmatic, revenue-centric approach over Henry’s romanticized views of the native nobility. To resolve the administrative deadlock, Dalhousie abolished the three-member Board of Administration entirely in 1853.
Sole Authority: Upon the board’s dissolution, John Lawrence was officially appointed as the first Chief Commissioner of Punjab. He exercised supreme civil and political authority, successfully pacifying the province, building roads, and enacting agricultural reforms. His highly effective administration ensured that Punjab remained brutally loyal to the British during the 1857 Mutiny.

📌 Subsidiary Alliance • Awadh

Q.11) Which Indian state was the first to fall into a protection trap that anticipated the Subsidiary Alliance system, by signing a treaty in 1765 to defray the expenses of British defense?

Ans > Awadh

Aftermath of Buxar: Following the decisive British victory at the Battle of Buxar (1764), the East India Company held immense leverage over the defeated powers. Rather than outright annexing Awadh, Robert Clive shrewdly decided to use it as a strategic, heavily armed buffer state to protect the wealthy province of Bengal from Maratha and Afghan invasions.
The Treaty of Allahabad (1765): The Nawab of Awadh, Shuja-ud-Daula, was forced to sign this humiliating treaty. A crucial clause mandated that Awadh must rely entirely on British Company troops for its internal and external defense. Furthermore, the Nawab was required to heavily defray all expenses for the maintenance of these British forces stationed within his borders.
The Prototype System: This financial and military arrangement served as the exact prototype for what would later become the formalized Subsidiary Alliance system under Lord Wellesley. Over the decades, the massive financial burden of maintaining these British troops deliberately drained Awadh’s economy, culminating in Dalhousie annexing it in 1856 on grounds of “misgovernance.”

📌 Subsidiary Alliance • Carnatic

Q.12) In 1787, the Company first insisted that a subsidiary state should not have foreign relations in a treaty signed by Lord Cornwallis with the Nawab of which region?

Ans > Carnatic

The Debt Trap: The Nawab of Carnatic, Muhammad Ali Wallajah, had accumulated massive, crippling debts to the East India Company and private British creditors to finance his wars. The Company used this immense financial leverage to increasingly strip away his administrative and sovereign powers piece by piece over several decades.
Cornwallis’s Crucial Clause: In 1787, Governor-General Lord Cornwallis forced a new treaty upon the Nawab. For the very first time in British Indian history, this treaty explicitly mandated that the subsidiary state was strictly forbidden from maintaining any foreign relations, conducting diplomatic correspondence, or forming alliances with other native or European powers (like the French).
Loss of Absolute Sovereignty: By surrendering his right to foreign policy, the Nawab effectively lost his status as an independent sovereign ruler. This specific diplomatic restriction became a mandatory, cornerstone clause in Lord Wellesley’s later Subsidiary Alliance system, permanently isolating Indian states from uniting against the British.

📌 Maratha Empire • Treaties

Q.13) Which Maratha confederation was the last to accept the Subsidiary Alliance in 1818?

Ans > The Holkars

The Final Maratha Resistance: The Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817-1818) was the final, desperate attempt by the Maratha confederacy to overthrow British paramountcy in India. While the Peshwa, the Bhonsles, and the Scindias were defeated and forced into submission relatively early in the campaign, the Holkars of Indore offered fierce, sustained military resistance.
The Battle of Mahidpur: The Holkar army, heavily reliant on their artillery and cavalry, engaged the British forces commanded by Sir Thomas Hislop at the bloody Battle of Mahidpur (December 1817). Despite fighting bravely, internal divisions and superior British military organization led to a crushing defeat for the Holkars.
Treaty of Mandsaur (1818): Following this decisive defeat, the young ruler Malhar Rao Holkar II was compelled to sign the Treaty of Mandsaur in January 1818. This treaty forced them to cede vast territories in Rajasthan, accept a British Resident at Indore, and formally submit to the Subsidiary Alliance, marking the absolute end of Maratha independence.

📌 Doctrine of Lapse • Annexations

Q.14) Under Lord Dalhousie’s Doctrine of Lapse, the state of Baghat (located in modern Himachal Pradesh) was annexed in which year?

Ans > 1850

The Mechanism of Lapse: Lord Dalhousie ruthlessly implemented the Doctrine of Lapse, which declared that any “dependent” Indian state whose ruler died without a natural biological heir would automatically lapse (revert) to the direct control of the East India Company, strictly denying the traditional Hindu right of adopting a successor.
The Annexation of Baghat: Baghat was a small, strategic Cis-Sutlej hill state (located in present-day Solan district, Himachal Pradesh). When its ruler, Raja Vijay Singh, died without leaving a natural heir, Dalhousie immediately refused to recognize his adopted son. Consequently, the state was formally annexed into the British Empire in 1850.
Post-Revolt Reversal: The aggressive annexations under this doctrine caused immense widespread resentment among the Indian nobility, becoming a major catalyst for the 1857 Revolt. Recognizing this error, the subsequent Viceroy, Lord Canning, officially abandoned the doctrine and restored the state of Baghat to the native ruling family in 1860 to ensure their loyalty.

📌 Doctrine of Lapse • Annexations

Q.15) Under Lord Dalhousie’s Doctrine of Lapse, the state of Udaipur was annexed in which year?

Ans > 1852

Geographical Clarification: It is highly important to note that this refers specifically to the small princely state of Udaipur located in the Central Provinces (modern-day Chhattisgarh region), and absolutely not the famous, powerful Rajputana state of Udaipur (Mewar) in Rajasthan, which remained completely independent under treaty.
Application of the Doctrine: Following the strict, unforgiving parameters of the Doctrine of Lapse, when the local ruler of this central Indian state died without a recognized biological male heir, Lord Dalhousie swiftly declared the adoption invalid. The British administration immediately moved in to annex the territory in 1852.
Strategic Motives and Reversal: Dalhousie’s broader imperial motive was to systematically eliminate small internal pockets of native rule to consolidate contiguous British territory, heavily easing the expansion of railways and commercial trade routes. However, much like Baghat, the state of Udaipur was eventually restored to native rule by Lord Canning following the massive upheavals of 1857.

📌 Treaties • Anglo-Nepalese War

Q.16) The Treaty of Sagauli (1816) allowed the British to acquire sites for hill stations. Which of the following hill stations was acquired as a result of this treaty?

Ans > Shimla

The Anglo-Nepalese War (1814-16): Driven by border disputes and Gurkha expansion into the Terai region, the British East India Company fought a difficult, bloody mountain war against the Kingdom of Nepal. The British forces, ultimately commanded by General David Ochterlony, managed to push deep into the hills and force a surrender.
Terms of Sagauli: The resulting Treaty of Sagauli (ratified in 1816) was highly favorable to the British. Nepal was forced to cede massive amounts of territory, including the regions of Kumaon, Garhwal, and the Terai. They also agreed to withdraw from Sikkim and accept a British Resident in Kathmandu.
Birth of the Hill Stations: The territorial acquisitions from this treaty directly provided the British with high-altitude, cool-climate ridges perfectly suited for European habitation. They rapidly developed these remote sites into famous hill stations—most notably Shimla (which later became the summer capital of British India), Mussoorie, and Nainital—serving as vital sanatoriums and military cantonments.

📌 Anglo-Burmese Wars

Q.17) During the First Anglo-Burmese War (1824–26), the British expeditionary forces occupied Rangoon and reached within 72 km of which Burmese capital?

Ans > Ava

Origins of the Conflict: The aggressive expansion of the powerful Konbaung dynasty of Burma into Assam, Manipur, and Arakan posed a direct, intolerable military threat to the borders of British-held Bengal. In response, Lord Amherst declared the First Anglo-Burmese War in 1824 to neutralize this eastern threat.
The Naval and Land Campaign: Rather than fighting entirely through the impenetrable jungles of Assam, the British launched a massive amphibious naval assault led by Sir Archibald Campbell. They successfully captured the crucial port city of Rangoon, although the army subsequently suffered horrific casualties entirely due to tropical diseases and harsh monsoon conditions.
The Advance on Ava: Pushing slowly up the Irrawaddy River, the British forces decimated the Burmese armies (including the death of the legendary General Maha Bandula). The British advanced to the village of Yandabo, situated a mere 72 kilometers from the royal capital of Ava. Terrified of complete destruction, the Burmese King was forced to sign the devastating Treaty of Yandabo.

📌 Administration • Burma

Q.18) In order to weaken the link between Burmese nationalists and the Indian National Congress, the British separated Burma from India in which year?

Ans > 1935

Colonial Consolidation: Following the Three Anglo-Burmese Wars, the British had completely annexed Burma by 1885, administering it merely as an extended province of the British Indian Empire. However, this administrative union increasingly fueled resentment among the Burmese population against both British rulers and Indian economic migrants.
Fear of United Nationalism: By the 1920s and 30s, the British government became deeply paranoid about the rising political cross-pollination between the highly organized Indian National Congress (INC) and radical Burmese nationalist organizations (like the Dobama Asiayone). They feared a massive, coordinated anti-colonial uprising across both immense territories.
The Act of Separation: Acting largely on the recommendations of the Simon Commission, the British parliament passed the Government of India Act 1935. This landmark legislation officially mandated the legal and administrative separation of Burma from India (effective from 1937), providing Burma with its own distinct constitution and legislature to explicitly isolate their respective freedom movements.

📌 Treaties • Tibet Expedition

Q.19) Under the Treaty of Lhasa (1904), the Indian Government was to occupy which valley as a security for the payment of the Tibetan indemnity?

Ans > Chumbi Valley

Curzon’s Paranoia: The Viceroy, Lord Curzon, was deeply obsessed with the “Great Game” and heavily suspected that the Russian Empire was secretly supplying arms to Tibet and attempting to establish a protectorate in Lhasa, which would severely threaten India’s northern borders.
The Younghusband Expedition: To force diplomatic relations and neutralize the perceived Russian threat, Curzon dispatched a massive military expedition into Tibet in 1904, commanded by Colonel Francis Younghusband. The expedition brutally massacred poorly armed Tibetan monks at Guru and successfully forced their way into the holy city of Lhasa, prompting the Dalai Lama to flee.
Punitive Conditions: The resulting Treaty of Lhasa was incredibly harsh. It forced Tibet to open trade marts, banned them from negotiating with foreign powers (Russia), and imposed a crushing war indemnity of 75 lakh rupees. As absolute security for this payment, the British militarily occupied the highly strategic Chumbi Valley (located between Sikkim and Bhutan) for three years.

📌 Foreign Policy • Governor-Generals

Q.20) Which Governor-General advocated a “Forward Policy” in 1836, implying that the Company had to take initiatives to protect British India from a probable Russian attack?

Ans > Lord Auckland

The Great Game Context: In the 1830s, the Russian Empire was rapidly expanding its influence across Central Asia and Persia. The British administration in Calcutta and London became consumed by the profound fear that Russia would eventually use Afghanistan as a staging ground for a massive invasion of British India.
The Forward Policy: Governor-General Lord Auckland initiated the aggressive “Forward Policy.” Rather than waiting at the Indus River, this doctrine dictated that the British must proactively intervene across their borders to secure a “scientific frontier.” This meant replacing uncooperative rulers in neighboring states with compliant, pro-British puppets.
The Afghan Disaster: Acting on this policy, Auckland decided to forcefully depose the independent Afghan ruler, Dost Mohammad Khan, and install the highly unpopular, exiled Shah Shuja on the throne of Kabul. This massive strategic miscalculation directly plunged the British into the catastrophic First Anglo-Afghan War, resulting in immense loss of life and prestige.

📌 Anglo-Afghan Wars

Q.21) The disastrous First Anglo-Afghan War (1839–42) cost the British Indian government nearly 20,000 men and approximately what amount of money?

Ans > 1.5 crore rupees

The Illusion of Victory: The British initially succeeded in capturing Kabul in 1839 and placing their puppet, Shah Shuja, on the throne. However, their prolonged military occupation, cultural insensitivity, and massive reduction of subsidies to local tribal chiefs quickly ignited a fierce, nationwide Afghan insurgency against the British garrisons.
The Catastrophic Retreat: In January 1842, the situation became completely untenable. The British Army, commanded by the elderly and indecisive General Elphinstone, attempted a desperate winter retreat to Jalalabad. The column of 4,500 soldiers and 12,000 camp followers was heavily ambushed in the freezing mountain passes; famously, only one European (Dr. William Brydon) survived to tell the tale.
Massive Economic Drain: Beyond the horrific human toll, the war was an absolute financial disaster for the East India Company. It completely depleted the Indian treasury, costing an estimated 1.5 crore rupees. Furthermore, it permanently shattered the psychological myth of British military invincibility across the subcontinent.

📌 Foreign Policy • Afghanistan

Q.22) Which Viceroy/Governor-General initiated the policy of “Masterly Inactivity” regarding Afghanistan as a reaction to the disasters of the First Afghan War?

Ans > John Lawrence

Trauma of the First War: The catastrophic destruction of the British army during the First Anglo-Afghan War left a deep, lasting psychological scar on the colonial administration. They realized that occupying the hostile, mountainous terrain of Afghanistan was both financially ruinous and militarily impossible to sustain long-term.
The Core Doctrine: To prevent another disaster, Viceroy John Lawrence initiated the highly pragmatic policy of “Masterly Inactivity.” This doctrine strictly mandated absolute non-interference in the internal tribal politics and bloody succession disputes of Afghanistan. The British would recognize whoever emerged victorious on the throne of Kabul, without offering military support.
The Crucial Caveat: However, this inactivity was strictly conditional. Lawrence maintained this passive posture only as long as no other foreign power (specifically referring to the Russian Empire) attempted to intervene or establish influence in Kabul. It was a policy designed to conserve British resources while maintaining a neutral buffer state.

📌 Foreign Policy • Lord Lytton

Q.23) Lord Lytton’s foreign policy regarding Afghanistan, which aimed at safeguarding ‘spheres of influence’ and having scientific frontiers, was known as what?

Ans > Proud Reserve

Reversal of Inactivity: In 1876, the Conservative government in London appointed Lord Lytton as Viceroy with explicit, aggressive instructions to completely reverse John Lawrence’s passive policy of “Masterly Inactivity.” The British once again became highly alarmed by Russian advances toward the Afghan borders in Central Asia.
The Concept of Proud Reserve: Lytton instituted the doctrine of “Proud Reserve.” He believed the British could no longer wait passively at the Indus River. Instead, they needed to aggressively project power into Afghanistan to establish “scientific frontiers”—defensible mountain passes and strategic outposts to permanently block any potential Russian invasion route.
Triggering the Second War: Acting on this aggressive policy, Lytton arrogantly demanded that the Afghan Amir, Sher Ali, accept a permanent British diplomatic mission in Kabul. When Sher Ali refused (while having previously received a Russian envoy), Lytton used it as a pretext to launch a massive invasion, directly triggering the Second Anglo-Afghan War (1878-80).

📌 Administration • NWFP

Q.24) The Viceroy Lord Curzon (1899–1905) followed a policy of withdrawal and concentration on the North-West Frontier. He created the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP), which was previously under the control of the lieutenant-governor of which province?

Ans > Punjab

The Frontier Problem: The rugged, mountainous borderlands separating British India from Afghanistan were inhabited by fiercely independent and heavily armed Pashtun tribes (like the Afridis and Mahsuds). Constant tribal raids and the massive military campaigns required to suppress them were heavily draining the resources of the provincial Punjab government.
Curzon’s Assessment: Viceroy Lord Curzon astutely recognized that the civilian administration in Lahore was completely ill-equipped to manage the highly complex, volatile, and deeply militarized politics of the frontier region. He believed the area required specialized, centralized handling to ensure imperial security.
Carving out the NWFP: In 1901, Curzon officially detached the turbulent trans-Indus districts (including Peshawar, Kohat, Bannu, and Dera Ismail Khan) entirely from the administrative control of Punjab. He amalgamated them to form the brand new North-West Frontier Province (NWFP), placing it under a Chief Commissioner who reported directly to the central Government of India.

📌 Tribal & Peasant Uprisings • Odisha

Q.25) During the Paika Rebellion of 1817, the British expropriation of which ancestral estate belonging to Bakshi Jagabandhu Bidyadhar in 1814 sparked his resentment?

Ans > Killa Rorang

The Hereditary Commander: Bakshi Jagabandhu Bidyadhar was a highly respected figure in Odisha, serving as the hereditary military commander (Bakshi) for the traditional forces of the Raja of Khurda. He commanded immense loyalty from the Paikas, the traditional landed militia of the region.
The Fraudulent Expropriation: Jagabandhu possessed a highly valuable, rent-free ancestral estate known as Killa Rorang. In 1814, corrupt East India Company officials, heavily colluding with exploitative Bengali speculators and middlemen, used fraudulent administrative maneuvers to completely strip him of his hereditary lands, reducing the once-proud commander to absolute beggary.
Catalyst for Rebellion: This blatant personal injustice and public humiliation deeply enraged Jagabandhu. Utilizing his massive influence among the equally oppressed Paika warriors—who had also lost their lands to the British—he heavily organized and successfully led the massive armed uprising in 1817, aiming to overthrow Company rule in Odisha entirely.

📌 Tribal & Peasant Uprisings • Odisha

Q.26) In 1803, the East India Company dethroned the Raja of Khurda, which greatly reduced the power and prestige of the Paikas. Who was this Raja?

Ans > Mukunda Deva

British Conquest of Odisha: During the Second Anglo-Maratha War in 1803, the British East India Company forces successfully invaded and conquered the coastal regions of Odisha, wresting control from the Maratha Empire to consolidate their territories between Bengal and Madras.
The Clash with Khurda: The British almost immediately came into intense friction with Raja Mukunda Deva II of Khurda. When the Raja refused to accept full British paramountcy and attempted to resist their economic demands, the Company ruthlessly dethroned him, stripping away his sovereignty and relegating him to a mere pensioner in Puri.
Destruction of the Paika System: The dethronement had catastrophic social consequences. The British systematically dismantled the traditional Paika (warrior) militia system that had served the Raja. They ruthlessly resumed the rent-free lands traditionally held by the Paikas and imposed extortionate revenue demands and harsh salt taxes, creating the explosive conditions that led to the 1817 rebellion.

📌 Rebellions • UP

Q.27) The fort of Hathras, which was besieged by the British in 1817 due to the rebellion of Dayaram, was considered among the strongest in India and was often referred to as the second what?

Ans > Second Bharatpur

The Jat Rebellion: In 1817, the powerful Jat Zamindar (landlord) of the Aligarh region, Dayaram, rose in open rebellion against the East India Company. His primary grievance was the heavily oppressive, ever-increasing land revenue demands imposed by the British administration, which he fiercely refused to pay.
The Formidable Defenses: Dayaram retreated to his massive stronghold, the Fort of Hathras. This fort possessed incredibly thick mud walls (which absorbed cannon fire), deep surrounding moats, and was heavily armed with modern artillery. Its defenses were so incredibly formidable that the British widely compared it to the supposedly impregnable fort of Bharatpur.
The Overwhelming Siege: To crush this defiance and make an example of Dayaram, the British assembled a massive siege train. They bombarded the fort with an unprecedented amount of heavy artillery fire for weeks. The siege ended violently when a British mortar shell directly struck the fort’s main powder magazine, causing a massive explosion that utterly destroyed the defenses and forced Dayaram to flee.

📌 Tribal Uprisings • Chhotanagpur

Q.28) In 1831, the Kol Mutiny was sparked by the transfer of land from Kol headmen to outsiders such as Hindu, Sikh, and Muslim farmers. Who led this mutiny?

Ans > Buddho Bhagat

Exploitation by Outsiders: The root cause of the massive Kol Mutiny in the Chhotanagpur plateau (covering areas like Ranchi, Singhbhum, and Hazaribagh) was brutal economic exploitation. The British administration systematically facilitated the transfer of traditional tribal lands from the indigenous Kol headmen (Mundas) to wealthy outsider merchants, moneylenders, and farmers known locally as ‘Dikus’.
The Spark of Rebellion: These ‘Dikus’ exacted highly oppressive taxes, engaged in severe forced labor, and routinely humiliated the tribal population. The situation reached a boiling point in 1831 when several instances of extreme brutality by outsider contractors finally ignited a massive, widespread, and deeply violent tribal uprising against both the British and the outsiders.
Leadership of Buddho Bhagat: The rebellion was fiercely and capably led by the tribal leader Buddho Bhagat. He successfully organized large war parties that systematically attacked and burned the properties of the outsiders and clashed heavily with Company troops. The mutiny was eventually crushed with massive military force, and Buddho Bhagat died fighting bravely in battle along with his followers.

📌 Administration • Lord Curzon

Q.29) Which Governor General created the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) directly under the Government of India?

Ans > Lord Curzon

Strategic Administrative Reform: Upon assuming the Viceroyalty, Lord Curzon (1899-1905) immediately realized that the existing system of managing the highly volatile Afghan frontier through the provincial government of Punjab was entirely inefficient and dangerously slow during military emergencies. He sought a radical restructuring of border defenses.
Military Realignment: Curzon initiated a policy of withdrawing regular British army troops from highly exposed, isolated forward posts in the tribal areas. Instead, he heavily relied on raising local tribal militias and irregular levies (such as the famous Khyber Rifles) to police their own territories, significantly reducing financial costs and military friction.
Creation of the Buffer Zone: To solidify this new strategy, he officially carved out the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) in 1901. By placing this highly militarized buffer zone directly under the control of the central Government of India (via a Chief Commissioner), Curzon ensured that Calcutta could instantly dictate frontier policy without dealing with provincial bureaucracy.

📌 Independence Movements • Burma

Q.30) Which Burmese nationalist leader intensified the movement against the British during the Second World War, ultimately leading to Burma’s independence in 1948?

Ans > U Aung San

The Pragmatic Nationalist: General Aung San was the paramount leader of the Burmese independence struggle. Recognizing the immense opportunity presented by the outbreak of the Second World War, he pragmatically sought foreign assistance to overthrow the deeply entrenched British colonial administration that had ruled Burma for over a century.
The Japanese Alliance: Initially, Aung San and the “Thirty Comrades” received secret military training from imperial Japan. They successfully formed the Burma Independence Army (BIA) and fought alongside Japanese forces in 1942 to aggressively drive the British out of Burma, believing Japan would grant them true sovereign independence.
Switching Sides for Freedom: Upon realizing that Japanese fascist rule was even more brutally oppressive than British colonialism, Aung San brilliantly shifted alliances. In 1945, he led the Anti-Fascist People’s Freedom League (AFPFL) in an armed uprising against the Japanese, assisting the returning Allied forces. This masterstroke cemented his position, allowing him to successfully negotiate Burma’s absolute independence before his tragic assassination in 1947.

📌 Quick Summary — Modern History Set 17

Sindh Annexation: Charles Napier called it a “humane piece of rascality”; James Outram heavily criticized the aggressive policy.
Anglo-Sikh Wars: Mudki was the first defeat (Dec 1845); Aliwal fought in Jan 1846; Jalandhar Doab annexed under Treaty of Lahore (1846).
Second Anglo-Sikh War: Sparked by Mulraj’s revolt in Multan; Sir Hugh Gough led at Ramnagar; Battle of Gujarat resulted in final Sikh surrender.
Punjab Administration: Hugh Gough was not on the governing board; John Lawrence became the first chief commissioner in 1853.
Subsidiary Alliance: Awadh first fell into the trap (1765); Carnatic first gave up foreign relations (1787); Holkars were the last to accept (1818).
Doctrine of Lapse: Baghat annexed in 1850; Udaipur (Chhattisgarh) annexed in 1852.
Hill Stations: Shimla was acquired after the Treaty of Sagauli (1816) ending the Anglo-Nepalese War.
Anglo-Burmese Wars: British reached within 72 km of Ava; Burma separated from India in 1935; U Aung San led the WW2 independence movement.
Tibet: British occupied Chumbi Valley as security under the Treaty of Lhasa (1904).
Anglo-Afghan Wars: Lord Auckland started the Forward Policy (1836); First war cost 1.5 crore rupees; John Lawrence began “Masterly Inactivity”; Lytton started “Proud Reserve”.
Frontier Policy: Lord Curzon created the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) from Punjab.
Tribal Uprisings: Expropriation of Killa Rorang sparked the Paika Rebellion (1817); Raja Mukunda Deva was dethroned in 1803; Buddho Bhagat led the Kol Mutiny (1831).
Rebellions in UP: The heavily fortified fort of Hathras was called the “Second Bharatpur”.

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Modern History Set 17

Q.1) Who made the following statement regarding the annexation of Sindh: “We have no right to seize Sindh, yet we shall do so, and a very advantageous, useful, humane piece of rascality it will be”?

Q.2) Which British official, serving as the Deputy to Napier during the annexation of Sindh, stated, “I am sick of your policy; I will not say yours is the best, but it is undoubtedly the shortest, that of the sword…”?

Q.3) During the First Anglo-Sikh War (1845–46), the first of the five successive defeats suffered by the Sikhs due to the treachery of their commanders occurred at which location on December 18, 1845?

Q.4) The Battle of Aliwal, a significant engagement during the First Anglo-Sikh War, was fought in which month and year?

Q.5) Under the Treaty of Lahore (March 8, 1846), which specific territorial region between the Beas and the Sutlej rivers was annexed to the Company’s dominions?

Q.6) The immediate cause of the Second Anglo-Sikh War (1848–49) was the revolt of Mulraj, who was the governor of which region?

Q.7) During the Second Anglo-Sikh War, the Battle of Ramnagar was led by which British Commander-in-Chief?

Q.8) Which battle fought on February 21, 1849, resulted in the final surrender of the Sikh army at Rawalpindi?

Q.9) Following the annexation of Punjab in 1849, a three-member board was set up to govern the region. Which of the following was NOT a member of this board?

Q.10) In 1853, the governing board of Punjab was nullified and replaced with a chief commissioner. Who became the first chief commissioner of Punjab?

Q.11) Which Indian state was the first to fall into a protection trap that anticipated the Subsidiary Alliance system, by signing a treaty in 1765 to defray the expenses of British defense?

Q.12) In 1787, the Company first insisted that a subsidiary state should not have foreign relations in a treaty signed by Lord Cornwallis with the Nawab of which region?

Q.13) Which Maratha confederation was the last to accept the Subsidiary Alliance in 1818?

Q.14) Under Lord Dalhousie’s Doctrine of Lapse, the state of Baghat (located in modern Himachal Pradesh) was annexed in which year?

Q.15) Under Lord Dalhousie’s Doctrine of Lapse, the state of Udaipur was annexed in which year?

Q.16) The Treaty of Sagauli (1816) allowed the British to acquire sites for hill stations. Which of the following hill stations was acquired as a result of this treaty?

Q.17) During the First Anglo-Burmese War (1824–26), the British expeditionary forces occupied Rangoon and reached within 72 km of which Burmese capital?

Q.18) In order to weaken the link between Burmese nationalists and the Indian National Congress, the British separated Burma from India in which year?

Q.19) Under the Treaty of Lhasa (1904), the Indian Government was to occupy which valley as a security for the payment of the Tibetan indemnity?

Q.20) Which Governor-General advocated a “Forward Policy” in 1836, implying that the Company had to take initiatives to protect British India from a probable Russian attack?

Q.21) The disastrous First Anglo-Afghan War (1839–42) cost the British Indian government nearly 20,000 men and approximately what amount of money?

Q.22) Which Viceroy/Governor-General initiated the policy of “Masterly Inactivity” regarding Afghanistan as a reaction to the disasters of the First Afghan War?

Q.23) Lord Lytton’s foreign policy regarding Afghanistan, which aimed at safeguarding ‘spheres of influence’ and having scientific frontiers, was known as what?

Q.24) The Viceroy Lord Curzon (1899–1905) followed a policy of withdrawal and concentration on the North-West Frontier. He created the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP), which was previously under the control of the lieutenant-governor of which province?

Q.25) During the Paika Rebellion of 1817, the British expropriation of which ancestral estate belonging to Bakshi Jagabandhu Bidyadhar in 1814 sparked his resentment?

Q.26) In 1803, the East India Company dethroned the Raja of Khurda, which greatly reduced the power and prestige of the Paikas. Who was this Raja?

Q.27) The fort of Hathras, which was besieged by the British in 1817 due to the rebellion of Dayaram, was considered among the strongest in India and was often referred to as the second what?

Q.28) In 1831, the Kol Mutiny was sparked by the transfer of land from Kol headmen to outsiders such as Hindu, Sikh, and Muslim farmers. Who led this mutiny?

Q.29) Which Governor General created the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) directly under the Government of India?

Q.30) Which Burmese nationalist leader intensified the movement against the British during the Second World War, ultimately leading to Burma’s independence in 1948?

📌 Quick Summary — Modern History Set 17

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Q.1) Who made the following statement regarding the annexation of Sindh: “We have no right to seize Sindh, yet we shall do so, and a very advantageous, useful, humane piece of rascality it will be”?

Q.2) Which British official, serving as the Deputy to Napier during the annexation of Sindh, stated, “I am sick of your policy; I will not say yours is the best, but it is undoubtedly the shortest, that of the sword…”?

Q.3) During the First Anglo-Sikh War (1845–46), the first of the five successive defeats suffered by the Sikhs due to the treachery of their commanders occurred at which location on December 18, 1845?

Q.4) The Battle of Aliwal, a significant engagement during the First Anglo-Sikh War, was fought in which month and year?

Q.5) Under the Treaty of Lahore (March 8, 1846), which specific territorial region between the Beas and the Sutlej rivers was annexed to the Company’s dominions?

Q.6) The immediate cause of the Second Anglo-Sikh War (1848–49) was the revolt of Mulraj, who was the governor of which region?

Q.7) During the Second Anglo-Sikh War, the Battle of Ramnagar was led by which British Commander-in-Chief?

Q.8) Which battle fought on February 21, 1849, resulted in the final surrender of the Sikh army at Rawalpindi?

Q.9) Following the annexation of Punjab in 1849, a three-member board was set up to govern the region. Which of the following was NOT a member of this board?

Q.10) In 1853, the governing board of Punjab was nullified and replaced with a chief commissioner. Who became the first chief commissioner of Punjab?

Q.11) Which Indian state was the first to fall into a protection trap that anticipated the Subsidiary Alliance system, by signing a treaty in 1765 to defray the expenses of British defense?

Q.12) In 1787, the Company first insisted that a subsidiary state should not have foreign relations in a treaty signed by Lord Cornwallis with the Nawab of which region?

Q.13) Which Maratha confederation was the last to accept the Subsidiary Alliance in 1818?

Q.14) Under Lord Dalhousie’s Doctrine of Lapse, the state of Baghat (located in modern Himachal Pradesh) was annexed in which year?

Q.15) Under Lord Dalhousie’s Doctrine of Lapse, the state of Udaipur was annexed in which year?

Q.16) The Treaty of Sagauli (1816) allowed the British to acquire sites for hill stations. Which of the following hill stations was acquired as a result of this treaty?

Q.17) During the First Anglo-Burmese War (1824–26), the British expeditionary forces occupied Rangoon and reached within 72 km of which Burmese capital?

Q.18) In order to weaken the link between Burmese nationalists and the Indian National Congress, the British separated Burma from India in which year?

Q.19) Under the Treaty of Lhasa (1904), the Indian Government was to occupy which valley as a security for the payment of the Tibetan indemnity?

Q.20) Which Governor-General advocated a “Forward Policy” in 1836, implying that the Company had to take initiatives to protect British India from a probable Russian attack?

Q.21) The disastrous First Anglo-Afghan War (1839–42) cost the British Indian government nearly 20,000 men and approximately what amount of money?

Q.22) Which Viceroy/Governor-General initiated the policy of “Masterly Inactivity” regarding Afghanistan as a reaction to the disasters of the First Afghan War?

Q.23) Lord Lytton’s foreign policy regarding Afghanistan, which aimed at safeguarding ‘spheres of influence’ and having scientific frontiers, was known as what?

Q.24) The Viceroy Lord Curzon (1899–1905) followed a policy of withdrawal and concentration on the North-West Frontier. He created the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP), which was previously under the control of the lieutenant-governor of which province?

Q.25) During the Paika Rebellion of 1817, the British expropriation of which ancestral estate belonging to Bakshi Jagabandhu Bidyadhar in 1814 sparked his resentment?

Q.26) In 1803, the East India Company dethroned the Raja of Khurda, which greatly reduced the power and prestige of the Paikas. Who was this Raja?

Q.27) The fort of Hathras, which was besieged by the British in 1817 due to the rebellion of Dayaram, was considered among the strongest in India and was often referred to as the second what?

Q.28) In 1831, the Kol Mutiny was sparked by the transfer of land from Kol headmen to outsiders such as Hindu, Sikh, and Muslim farmers. Who led this mutiny?

Q.29) Which Governor General created the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) directly under the Government of India?

Q.30) Which Burmese nationalist leader intensified the movement against the British during the Second World War, ultimately leading to Burma’s independence in 1948?

📌 Quick Summary — Modern History Set 17

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

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