Previous Year Question
Consider the following events and arrange them in correct chronological order.
Acquisition of Awadh by the British
Ilbert Bill Controversy
Indigo Revolt
Second Anglo-Afghan War
Select the correct answer from the code given below:
Code:
1, 3, 4, 2
3, 1, 2, 4
3, 1, 4, 2
1, 3, 2, 4
Correct Answer: A
Detailed Solution
The correct chronological order is Acquisition of Awadh by the British (1856) → Indigo Revolt (1859–60) → Second Anglo-Afghan War (1878–80) → Ilbert Bill Controversy (1883).
The earliest was the British acquisition of Awadh in 1856. During the administration of Lord Dalhousie, Nawab Wajid Ali Shah was removed and Awadh was annexed to British territory. Importantly, Awadh was not annexed under the Doctrine of Lapse, but on the British allegation of misgovernment.
Next came the Indigo Revolt of 1859–60 in Bengal. Indigo cultivators refused to sow indigo in protest against forced cultivation and exploitative contracts imposed by European planters. The movement became sufficiently widespread for the government to appoint the Indigo Commission.
The third event was the Second Anglo-Afghan War of 1878–1880. It was fought between British India and Afghanistan, with its background connected to the strategic rivalry between Britain and Russia in Central Asia. The Treaty of Gandamak of 1879 was concluded during this war.
The latest was the Ilbert Bill Controversy of 1883. During Lord Ripon's administration, the proposed Ilbert Bill sought to empower senior Indian judicial officers to try European British subjects. Strong opposition from the European community ultimately led to modification of the Bill.