Company Rule and the Revolt of 1857

🎯 Learning Objective

Understand the Doctrine of Lapse, the Permanent Settlement and the causes and leaders of 1857.

💡 Concept

• The Permanent Settlement (1793) was introduced by Lord Cornwallis in Bengal, Bihar and Odisha, making zamindars the owners of land with a fixed revenue.
• The Doctrine of Lapse was Lord Dalhousie's policy: a state with no natural male heir would be annexed by the British (adopted heirs were not recognised).
• States annexed under this policy included Satara, Jhansi, Nagpur and Sambalpur; Awadh was annexed in 1856 on the excuse of misgovernance.
• The Revolt of 1857 (the First War of Independence) began on 10 May 1857 at Meerut; its immediate cause was the greased cartridges of the Enfield rifle.
• Mangal Pandey (at Barrackpore) is remembered as an early spark of the revolt.
• Its leaders included Bahadur Shah Zafar (Delhi), Nana Sahib and Tantia Tope (Kanpur), Rani Lakshmibai (Jhansi), Begum Hazrat Mahal (Lucknow) and Kunwar Singh (Bihar).
• The revolt failed, but it ended Company rule: by the Government of India Act 1858, power passed to the British Crown.
• Its causes were political (annexations), economic (exploitation), social-religious and military (the cartridges).

✏️ Easy Example

Q. The Revolt of 1857 began at which town?

1. It broke out over the greased-cartridge issue
2. It began on 10 May 1857 at Meerut

Answer: Meerut

🇮🇳 Real-Life Example

The Rani of Jhansi and Mangal Pandey are household names, and 'the immediate cause of 1857' (greased cartridges) plus 'who introduced the Doctrine of Lapse' (Dalhousie) are staple exam questions.

📝 Exam-Level Example

Q. The Doctrine of Lapse was introduced by which Governor-General?

1. It annexed states lacking a natural male heir
2. It was the policy of Lord Dalhousie

Answer: Lord Dalhousie

📝 Exam-Level Example

Q. After the Revolt of 1857, the rule of India passed from the Company to whom?

1. The Government of India Act 1858 ended Company rule
2. Power passed to the British Crown

Answer: The British Crown

🪄 Memory Trick

1857 leaders by city — Jhansi (Lakshmibai), Kanpur (Nana Sahib), Lucknow (Hazrat Mahal), Delhi (Bahadur Shah Zafar).

⚠️ Common Mistakes

• ❌ Confusing the Permanent Settlement (Cornwallis, land revenue) with the Doctrine of Lapse (Dalhousie, annexation).
• ❌ Naming the wrong immediate cause — it was the greased cartridges, not a single leader.

🏆 Exam Tips

• ✅ Cornwallis–Permanent Settlement (1793); Dalhousie–Doctrine of Lapse are two separate pairs.
• ✅ 1857 is a favourite for 'match the leader to the centre of revolt' questions.

📌 Summary

• Permanent Settlement (1793) by Cornwallis; Doctrine of Lapse by Dalhousie
• 1857 revolt began 10 May 1857 at Meerut over greased cartridges
• Leaders: Lakshmibai, Nana Sahib, Tantia Tope, Bahadur Shah Zafar
• Result: Company rule ended; Crown took over (GoI Act 1858)