"A cherry that would drop into our mouth one day" who has given above statement about the princely state of A… - Raj. CHO -2025

Raj. CHO -2025

General Knowledge

Easy

Appeared in: Raj. CHO -2025

Explanation

The statement was famously made by Lord Dalhousie, Governor-General of India, in 1851.
It referred to the kingdom of Awadh, which he viewed as a valuable territory ('a cherry') that would inevitably be annexed by the British ('drop into our mouth').
Dalhousie's expansionist policies were a hallmark of his tenure (1848-1856).
He ultimately annexed Awadh in 1856, not through the Doctrine of Lapse, but on the pretext of misrule by its Nawab, which became a major catalyst for the 1857 Revolt.

Option B: Lord Wellesley's tenure (1798-1805) was much earlier. He is associated with the 'Subsidiary Alliance' policy to bring states under British control, not this specific quote or the final annexation of Awadh.
Option C: Warren Hastings was the first Governor-General of Bengal (1773-1785). His period and policies are distinct from the mid-19th-century expansionism associated with Dalhousie.
Option D: This is an instruction for the person taking the exam and not a valid historical answer choice.

Visual 1: Map - A map of India circa 1857, highlighting the territories annexed by Lord Dalhousie, including Awadh, to illustrate the extent of British expansion under his rule.
Visual 2: Timeline - A timeline showing the key Governor-Generals of India and their major policies (e.g., Hastings, Wellesley, Bentinck, Dalhousie) to help differentiate their contributions and time periods.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain British Annexation of Indian Princely States as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Understanding the motives and methods of British expansion, such as the annexation of Awadh, is crucial for comprehending the causes of the Indian Revolt of 1857, a pivotal event in Indian history.
The policy of annexing a state on the pretext of 'misgovernance' demonstrates the political and diplomatic strategies employed by the British to justify their territorial expansion.
This event highlights the erosion of power of local rulers and the growing discontent against the East India Company's rule.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key phrases in the question: the quote "a cherry that would drop into our mouth one day" and the subject, "the princely state of Awadh".
Recognize this as a factual recall question from Modern Indian History, specifically related to British expansion.
Access your knowledge about the different Governor-Generals of India and their significant policies and statements.
Connect Lord Dalhousie with aggressive expansionist policies, including the Doctrine of Lapse and the annexation of Awadh.
Recall that this specific quote is famously attributed to Dalhousie in the context of his desire to annex Awadh.
Eliminate the other options by recalling their primary policies and time periods: Lord Wellesley with the Subsidiary Alliance and Warren Hastings with earlier administrative and judicial reforms.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: British Annexation of Indian Princely States
Stem keywords: a cherry that would drop into our mouth one day, princely state of Awadh
Lead-in keywords: who has given
Negative lead-in flag: false

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