Understanding the Doctrine of Lapse Policy

The question asks about the individual responsible for devising the policy known as the Doctrine of Lapse. This was a significant annexation policy widely implemented by the British East India Company in India.

The Doctrine of Lapse was a policy stating that if a ruler of a princely state died without a natural male heir, the state would 'lapse' or revert to the British territory. This departed from the established Indian tradition where a ruler without a natural heir could adopt one who would then inherit the throne.

Under the Doctrine of Lapse, the British disallowed adoption as a valid means of succession for princely states dependent on the British paramountcy. This policy was used to annex several Indian states, significantly expanding British control over the subcontinent.

The policy was aggressively implemented during the tenure of a particular Governor-General, leading to resentment and contributing to the unrest that culminated in the Indian Mutiny of 1857.

Let's examine the options provided to identify the correct person:

• The Lord Ellenborough: Served as Governor-General before the major implementation of the Doctrine of Lapse.
• Lord William Bentinck: Known for social reforms like the abolition of Sati; his tenure was much earlier than the period when the Doctrine of Lapse was prominently used.
• Lord Dalhousie: Served as Governor-General from 1848 to 1856. He is widely credited with devising and implementing the Doctrine of Lapse policy on a large scale. States like Satara (1848), Sambalpur (1849), Udaipur (1852), Nagpur (1853), Jhansi (1854), and potentially others were annexed using this doctrine during his time.
• Lord Canning: Became Governor-General in 1856, just before the Mutiny. He was involved in the events following the widespread application of the Doctrine of Lapse, but he did not devise the policy itself.

Based on historical records, Lord Dalhousie is the Governor-General who devised and systematically applied the Doctrine of Lapse policy.

Revision Table: Key Governors-General and Policies

Additional Information on Doctrine of Lapse

The Doctrine of Lapse was one of the controversial policies that expanded British control significantly. It was based on the premise that the British East India Company was the supreme power in India, and dependent states could not pass on their sovereignty without British approval, especially in the absence of a natural heir.

The states were often classified based on their relationship with the paramount power (the British):

• States that were created by the British.
• States that were loyal to the British.
• States that were independent of the British.

The Doctrine was primarily applied to the first two categories, but its application was often arbitrary and caused significant discontent among Indian rulers and the population, ultimately contributing to the build-up of the Mutiny of 1857.