Previous Year Question
In 1851, Governor-General Lord Dalhousie described which of the following states as ‘a cherry that will drop into our mouth one day’?
Correct Answer: C
Detailed Solution
Lord Dalhousie's famous “cherry” remark referred to Awadh, also known as Oudh.
The claim can be checked against a direct historical source:
the published collection of Lord Dalhousie's private letters, Private Letters of the Marquess of Dalhousie.
In a letter dated 30 July 1851, Dalhousie referred to Awadh as “a cherry which will drop into our mouths some day.” His words
reflected his expectation that the kingdom would eventually come under British possession.
Historical research on Awadh reproduces the same passage from Dalhousie's letter and identifies it as an early indication, in 1851, of his developing intention towards the annexation of Awadh.
Awadh was ultimately annexed by the British in 1856. Importantly, it was not annexed under the Doctrine of Lapse; the British justified the annexation on allegations of misgovernment.