Q. Was high taxation on Indian’s the main reason of the war of independence?
Do you agree or disagree? Explain.
Ans. One political reason of the war was the implementation of the controversial law ‘the Doctrine of
Lapse’. In 1848 Governor- General Lord Dalhousie made a law ‘the Doctrine of Lapse.’
This law stated that when a ruler of a Princely State died without a natural heir, the British would annex his
land. After this Satara, Nagpur and Jhansi soon fell into British hand. The British took this law as an
excuse for capturing the Indian land. When the Nawab of Oudh died and he had sons who could rule his
state but his land was captured by the British and lame excuse was given that he was not treating his
people well. This caused the Indians to become angry.
The other political reasons include the British decision to move royal family from Red Fort to the Qutab
Sahib and the replacement of Persian language with English as the language of administration which
further annoyed the Indians.
Another religious and social reason of the war of independence was the entrance of Christian
Missionaries in India. They began to setup schools there and in those schools they taught the Religion
Christianity. Indians wanted their children to get education but they were unfamiliar that their children were
learning Christianity. These Missionaries also forced people to give up their religion and follow Christianity.
This further angered the Indians. The arrogant attitude coupled with the introduction of a new way of life
with its railways, roads and telegraph was unacceptable to many Indians. Lord Macaulay’s remarks.
One Single shelf of the British Library worth more than the whole literature of Arabia and Persia,
Was an insult of the Indians and the Muslims.
One more economic reason of the revolt was putting high taxations on Indians. As the British
wanted to wipe out the wealth of Indians, they took raw – materials to England to process them into
manufactured goods and to sale them in India and the world on higher rates. They also followed the
practice of imposing high taxation on Indians to ensure that they exploited the Indians wealth to the full.
Peasants and small land owners found it difficult to pay the increasing tax and the resentment grew.
Do you agree or disagree? Explain.
Ans. One political reason of the war was the implementation of the controversial law ‘the Doctrine of
Lapse’. In 1848 Governor- General Lord Dalhousie made a law ‘the Doctrine of Lapse.’
This law stated that when a ruler of a Princely State died without a natural heir, the British would annex his
land. After this Satara, Nagpur and Jhansi soon fell into British hand. The British took this law as an
excuse for capturing the Indian land. When the Nawab of Oudh died and he had sons who could rule his
state but his land was captured by the British and lame excuse was given that he was not treating his
people well. This caused the Indians to become angry.
The other political reasons include the British decision to move royal family from Red Fort to the Qutab
Sahib and the replacement of Persian language with English as the language of administration which
further annoyed the Indians.
Another religious and social reason of the war of independence was the entrance of Christian
Missionaries in India. They began to setup schools there and in those schools they taught the Religion
Christianity. Indians wanted their children to get education but they were unfamiliar that their children were
learning Christianity. These Missionaries also forced people to give up their religion and follow Christianity.
This further angered the Indians. The arrogant attitude coupled with the introduction of a new way of life
with its railways, roads and telegraph was unacceptable to many Indians. Lord Macaulay’s remarks.
One Single shelf of the British Library worth more than the whole literature of Arabia and Persia,
Was an insult of the Indians and the Muslims.
One more economic reason of the revolt was putting high taxations on Indians. As the British
wanted to wipe out the wealth of Indians, they took raw – materials to England to process them into
manufactured goods and to sale them in India and the world on higher rates. They also followed the
practice of imposing high taxation on Indians to ensure that they exploited the Indians wealth to the full.
Peasants and small land owners found it difficult to pay the increasing tax and the resentment grew.
