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The big phase of British expansion came when Lord Dalhousie took over the Governor-Generalship. He was an energetic and determined man but a die-hard imperialist.
He believed in taking advantages of every opportunity to further British interests, by force if necessary. His methods against the Sikhs, led to the Second Sikh war as also with Burma, in 1852. He nevertheless succeeded in overpowering them.
His introduction of the ‘Doctrine of Lapse’ and the abolition of pensions and titles to the erstwhile Indian rulers created a feeling of anger and suspicion amongst the Indian people. This was further aggravated by not allowing the native rulers to adopt legal heirs for succession which was then the accepted custom.
However, he did undertake several reforms particularly in the first of education. The bitterness among Indian rulers caused by his imperialistic attitudes and policies eventually led to a rebellion that shook the very foundation of the Company’s rule in India.
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