Lord Dalhousie: Doctrine of Lapse Protagonist

The question asks to identify the principal figure behind the 'Doctrine of Lapse'. This policy played a crucial role in the expansion of British territories in India during the colonial era.

Understanding the Doctrine of Lapse

The 'Doctrine of Lapse' was an influential policy introduced by the British East India Company. It stipulated that if a ruler of an Indian princely state died without a natural heir, the state would be annexed (taken over) by the British. The policy also gave the British the authority to reject any adopted heir.

Key aspects of the policy include:

• Annexation upon the death of a ruler without a natural successor.
• The British East India Company's right to approve or reject adopted heirs.
• It served as a primary tool for British territorial expansion.

Lord Dalhousie's Role in the Doctrine of Lapse

Lord Dalhousie, who served as the Governor-General of India from 1848 to 1856, is prominently known as the main architect and vigorous implementer of the 'Doctrine of Lapse'. He applied this policy extensively, leading to the annexation of numerous Indian states, greatly increasing the British domain.

States annexed under Lord Dalhousie's administration using this doctrine include:

• Satara (1848)
• Sambalpur (1850)
• Jaitpur (1850)
• Baghat (1850)
• Udaipur (1852)
• Jhansi (1853)
• Nagpur (1854)

The aggressive application of this policy by Dalhousie caused widespread discontent among Indian rulers and is considered a significant factor contributing to the Indian Mutiny of 1857.

Comparison with Other Governor-Generals

While figures like Lord Wellesley (known for the Subsidiary Alliance system), Lord Minto, and Lord Hastings also contributed to the expansion of British power, the 'Doctrine of Lapse' is most strongly associated with Lord Dalhousie due to his systematic and assertive implementation of the policy.