Q. Consider the following statements regarding the provisions of the Treaty of Lahore (1846):
1.The Sikh state was forced to cede the Jalandhar Doab (the territory between the Beas and Sutlej) to the British.
2.A war indemnity of 1.5 crore rupees was imposed, leading to the sale of Kashmir to Gulab Singh Dogra to cover part of the debt.
3.The British were granted the right to annex the Punjab administration directly, ending the sovereignty of Maharaja Duleep Singh immediately.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Answer: A
Notes:
Explanation:
Statement 1: Correct. This annexation moved the British frontier from the Sutlej to the Beas, bringing them closer to the heart of Punjab.
Statement 2: Correct. The Lahore Durbar could not pay the full indemnity. Consequently, the British “sold” Kashmir to Gulab Singh for 75 lakh rupees, rewarding him for his neutrality during the war and creating the independent state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Statement 3: Incorrect. The British did not annex Punjab immediately. They allowed Duleep Singh to remain the Maharaja but stationed a British Resident (Henry Lawrence) at Lahore and reduced the Sikh army’s size significantly to ensure they could not revolt.
