After the annexation of Awadh in 1856, Nawab Wajid Ali Shah was dethroned and exiled to ________.

Correct option is D

Correct Answer: (D) Calcutta

Explanation:
After the annexation of Awadh by the British East India Company in 1856, Nawab Wajid Ali Shah was dethroned and exiled to Calcutta (present-day Kolkata). The British justified the annexation under the Doctrine of Lapse and allegations of misgovernance, although it was widely seen as a politically motivated act.

Information Booster:

• Wajid Ali Shah was the last Nawab of Awadh, known more for his contributions to arts, poetry, and music than for political administration.
• In Calcutta, he lived in Metiabruz, a suburb where he tried to recreate the cultural ambiance of Lucknow.
• His deposition created widespread resentment and was one of the factors that fueled the Revolt of 1857.
• The annexation of Awadh was perceived as a betrayal by Indian soldiers (sepoys) and civilians alike, contributing to the first war of Indian independence.

Additional Information:

• A (Meerut): Known as the starting point of the 1857 revolt but not related to Wajid Ali Shah’s exile.
• B (Rangoon): Rangoon (now Yangon, Myanmar) was where Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last Mughal emperor, was exiled after 1857.
• C (Bombay): Not associated with Wajid Ali Shah's exile.