GOVERNOR GENERAL OF INDIA LORD WILLIAM BENTINCK (1828-1835)

Lord William Bentinck became the first governor general of India by the charter act of 1833. He is responsible for various reforms in India, Viz. Abolition of provincial courts of appeal and circuit Power of the magistrate increased Appointment of Indians as judges Introduction of the residuary system Codification of Laws Established Medical colleges at Calcutta in 1835 Social reforms Abolition of sati in 1829. Suppression of Thagee system in central India; Banning of female infanticide; Banning of human sacrifice; Reform in the Hindu Law of Inheritance.

SIR CHARLES METCALFE (1835-1836)

CHARLES METCALFE was the Acting Governor General of India (March1835-March1836) after Bentinck. He was temporarily appointed. A man of liberal thinking, he removed the restriction on the vernacular press imposed by Wellesley on the Indian press, and guaranteeing freedom of expression to the Indians. He is called Liberator of India Press. He played a leading role in concluding the treaty of Amritsar of 1809 with Ranjit Singh. Metcalfe served as Secretary in the Secret and Political Departments. He was a member of the Supreme Council of Calcutta. He brought stability in the Punjab till the first Sikh war of 1845. As a reward Charles Metcalfe was posted as Resident at Gwalior in 1810, at Delhi from 1811 to 1819, and at Hyderabad from 1820-1822 and from 1825-1827.

LORD AUCKLAND (1836-1842)

Lord Auckland was appointed Governor- General of India in 1836. As a legislator he dedicated himself to the expansion of the commercial industry of India. But complications in Afghanistan interrupted this work in 1838. Lord Auckland decided on war, and on 1 October 1838 in Shimla published the Shimla Manifesto dethroning Dost Mahommed Khan. The Afghan campaign ultimately ended in disaster. He handed over the post to Lord Ellenborough and returned to England.

LORD ELLENBOROUGH (1842-1844) LORD ELLENBOROUGH is famous for the end of the first Afghan war. Annexation of Sindh to the British Empire (1843).

LORD HARDINGE (1844-1848)

LORD HARDINGE was famous for his featured First Sikh War (1845-1846). In May 1844 he succeeded Lord Ellenborough as Governor-General of India. The Battle of Aliwal on 28 January 1846, Hardinge concluded the campaign with the Treaty of Lahore with Maharajah Duleep Singh on 9 March 1846 and, The Treaty of Amritsar with Maharajah Gulab Singh on 16 March 1846.

LORD DALHOUSIE (1848-1856)

LORD DALHAUSIE was the youngest to hold the office of the Governor General. He is known as maker of modern India. He is famous for the Doctrine of Lapse. The second Anglo Burmese war, 1852, took place. The Second Anglo Sikh War and did Sikh power and Punjab was annexed. Shimla made the summer capital. Military reforms- Artillery Headquarters moved from Calcutta to Meerut; Army headquarters shifted to Shimla; Formation of Gurkha regiments. First railway line was led from Bombay to Thana, in 1853. Reforming the defects of the Postal System and linking all the important towns Telegraphically. Served Charles Woods despatch on Education (1854). After this recommendation he prepared a plan to establish a University in Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras on the basis of London University. Competitive examination for the Indian Civil Services began in 1853 under his supervision.

LORD CANNING (1856-1858)

LORD CANNING the Governor-General of India became the Viceroy and Governor-General of India by the Government of India Act 1858. Annexation of Avadh Enactment of Hindu Widow Remarriage Bill, 1856. Establishment of universities at Calcutta, Madras and Bombay in 1857. The revolt of 1857 who were some of the important events during his post of Governor General. Give the Answers for the following questions- Q 1- Who is known as the Akbar of British India? Answer: a) Wellesley b) Warren Hastings c) Lord Cornwallis d) William Bentinck Q 2- Sati-Pratha was abolished by? Answer: a) Lord Ripon b) Warren Hastings c)lord Cornwallis d)william Bentinck

Q 3- Which one of the following university was not established by Lord Canning? Answer: a) Bombay b) Madras c) Delhi d) Calcutta Q 4- Indian Railways and telegraph services were started during the reign of? Answer: a) Lord Cornwallis b) Lord Ripon c) Lord Canning d) Lord Dalhousie Q 5- Who among the following is known as the Maker of Modern India? Answer: a) William Bentinck b) Lord Cornwallis c) Lord Curzon d) Lord Dalhousie

ANSWERS FOR THE ABOVE QUESTIONS- 1. a 2. d 3. c 4. d 5. d