What is the policy of abdication and what were the main conditions of this policy :
The most notable imperialist ruler in India after Lord Wellesley was the great Lord Dalhousie. Historian Sir Richard Temple has commented that “Among the British imperial rulers in India, Dalhousie had no equal.” Historian Innes has commented that the rulers before Dalhousie avoided war or state capture. But Dalhousie was the opposite, he always looked for opportunities to capture states. The British Empire expanded its maximum in India during Dalhousie’s reign.
What is the policy of abdication:
One of the most notable policies adopted by the British great Lord Dalhousie in India to greatly expand the British Empire in this country was the policy of abdication. According to this policy, he denied the right of the illegitimate kings of the native states created by the British Company to adopt their adopted sons. Therefore, after the death of all those kings, the right or right of the heir to the throne would be extinguished. As a result, that state would be included in the British Empire.
Conditions of the Abolition Policy:
The main conditions of the Abolition Policy are –
1. Division of Native States: Dalhousie generally divided the native Hindu states of India into three parts, namely-
i. Native States created by the Company.
ii. Independent Native States.
iii. Dependent or subordinate tax states of the Company.
2. Native States created by the Company: If the king of a native state created by the East India Company does not have any sons, then that king cannot adopt any heir or adopted son. As a result, after the death of the king, due to the absence of an heir to the throne, that state would be included in the British Empire.
3. Independent Native States: The government will not take any action regarding the succession of independent native states.
4. Company’s dependent tax state: Company’s dependent tax
The kings of the state can adopt children with the permission of the company. However, if the company does not allow the native king to adopt, then after the king’s death, the heirless state will go to the company.
Application of the policy of forfeiture:
Before Lord Dalhousie, the policy of forfeiture was implemented in Mandavi in 1839, in Colaba and Jalayun in 1840 and in Surat in 1842. However, Dalhousie was the first in India to incorporate various native states into the British Empire through this policy and abolished the status of several native kings. They are-
1. State Rights: Dalhousie through the policy of Abolition
In 1848, Satara was annexed to the British Empire, followed by Joyetpur, Sambalpur, Baghat and Bhagat in 1850, Udaipur in 1852, Karauli, Jhansi and Nagpur in 1854.
2. Abolition of the rank of king: Through the application of the policy of Abolition
Dalhousie abolished the rank and allowances of several native kings. After the death of Peshwa Bajirao II, the scholarship and title of Peshwa of his adopted son Nanasaheb were abolished.