Question map
Which of the following statements about hill stations of colonial India is/are correct? 1. The architecture of hill stations sought to recreate the European style 2. Hill stations were developed as sanitariums where soldiers were treated for illness 3. Shimla became the official residence of the Commander in Chief of the Indian Army 4. In 1864, Shimla had to be evacuated because of a Typhoid epidemic Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Explanation
The hill stations of colonial India were intentionally designed to recreate European styles, serving as a 'home away from home' with neo-gothic architecture and bungalows that replicated European aesthetics. Initially, these stations were developed as sanitariums or sanatoria where British soldiers and officials were treated for illnesses and tropical exhaustion [1]. Shimla, specifically, became a critical administrative hub; it served as the summer capital of British India and the official residence of the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army. While Shimla faced health challenges, there is no historical record of a total evacuation in 1864 due to a typhoid epidemic; rather, 1864 was the year Sir John Lawrence officially declared Shimla the summer capital. Therefore, statements 1, 2, and 3 are correct, while statement 4 is historically inaccurate.
Sources
- [1] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 11: Industries > 2. Hill Stations > p. 92