The Doctrine of Lapse- Infoatwill

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The Doctrine of Lapse was a policy introduced by the British East India Company in India in the mid-19th century. The policy was first implemented by Lord Dalhousie, the Governor-General of India, in 1848. The Doctrine of Lapse – Infoatwill article will shed some light on its historical background.

Under this policy, any Indian prince who did not have a natural male heir would lose his right to rule, and his territory would be annexed by the British. The British claimed that they were following a Hindu custom that prohibited adoption of children from outside the family as legitimate heirs, and therefore, they believed that the adopted sons of Indian princes were not legitimate heirs and had no right to succeed to the throne.

States Affected by the Doctrine of Lapse

The Doctrine of Lapse was highly controversial and led to the annexation of several Indian states, The following Indian states were affected by the Doctrine of Lapse:

1. Satara: The state of Satara was annexed by the British East India Company in 1848 under the Doctrine of Lapse. The last ruler of Satara, Pratap Singh, had adopted a son, but the British did not recognize the adoption, and the state was annexed.
2. Jaitpur and Sambhalpur: The states of Jaitpur and Sambhalpur were annexed by the British in 1849 under the Doctrine of Lapse. Both states had rulers who had adopted sons, but the British did not recognize the adoptions.
3. Nagpur: The state of Nagpur was annexed by the British in 1854 under the Doctrine of Lapse. The last ruler of Nagpur, Raghuji III, did not have a natural male heir, and his adopted son was not recognized by the British.
4. Jhansi: The state of Jhansi was annexed by the British in 1854 under the Doctrine of Lapse. The last ruler of Jhansi, Rani Lakshmibai, had adopted a son, but the British did not recognize the adoption, and the state was annexed.
5. Awadh: The state of Awadh was annexed by the British in 1856 under the Doctrine of Lapse. The last ruler of Awadh, Wajid Ali Shah, did not have a natural male heir, and his adopted son was not recognized by the British.

The main beneficiary of the Doctrine of Lapse

The main beneficiary of the Doctrine of Lapse was the British East India Company, which was the ruling power in India during the mid-19th century when the policy was in effect. By implementing this policy, the British were able to expand their territorial control over several Indian states without the need for military conquest, which saved them time and resources.

Abolishment of the Doctrine of Lapse

The Doctrine of Lapse was officially abolished by the British government in 1858, following the Indian Rebellion of 1857, which was also known as the First War of Indian Independence. After the rebellion was suppressed, the British government recognized the importance of Indian princes in maintaining stability and order in India, and they decided to abandon the Doctrine of Lapse. The British government issued a proclamation on November 1, 1858, which announced that any Indian prince who had been deposed under the Doctrine of Lapse would be reinstated, and his territories would be returned to him or his heirs.

The abolition of the Doctrine of Lapse was one of the major reforms that were introduced by the British government after the Indian Rebellion of 1857. The government also introduced other reforms, such as the establishment of a separate Indian Civil Service and the Indian Councils Act of 1861, which increased the participation of Indians in the administration of the country.