"A cherry that will drop into our mouth one day." Which kingdom did Lord Dalhousie refer to in this statement ?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 3:
This famous and revealing statement was made by Lord Dalhousie, the Governor-General of India (1848–1856), in reference to the annexation of the kingdom of Awadh (or Oudh). Awadh was annexed in 1856, just before Dalhousie left office. Unlike other states annexed under the Doctrine of Lapse (like Satara, Jhansi, and Nagpur), Awadh was ruled by Nawab Wajid Ali Shah and was annexed under the pretext of 'misgovernance' or 'maladministration' rather than a lack of a male heir. Dalhousie’s use of the metaphor "A cherry that will drop into our mouth one day" indicates the rich, desirable territory of Awadh, which the British had coveted for a long time, suggesting they merely had to wait for the opportune moment to seize it, regardless of the Doctrine of Lapse. This calculated act, viewed as a betrayal by the people of Awadh, was a major contributing factor to the Revolt of 1857.

The incorrect option is 1:
Nagpur was annexed by Lord Dalhousie in 1853 under the Doctrine of Lapse, as the ruler had died without a natural male heir. This annexation was justified legally (under the British interpretation of the Doctrine), not merely as a piece of desirable territory waiting to be picked up.

The incorrect option is 2:
Jhansi was annexed in 1853, also under the Doctrine of Lapse, after the death of Raja Gangadhar Rao. The annexation led directly to the heroic resistance of Rani Lakshmi Bai during the Revolt of 1857, but it fell under the formal policy of Lapse, not the specific "cherry" remark applied to Awadh’s annexation on the grounds of misgovernance.

The incorrect option is 4:
Satara was the very first state to be annexed under the Doctrine of Lapse in 1848 by Dalhousie. Its annexation was based purely on the application of the Doctrine when the ruler died without a male successor and the British refused to recognize an adopted heir.