Camille Chamoun vs Lord Lytton

Camille Chamoun was elected President of Lebanon on September 23, 1952, succeeding Bechara El Khoury. His election marked a shift in Lebanese politics, and he served a six-year term until 1958.

President Chamoun faced a major political crisis when Muslim factions rebelled against his pro-Western policies and alleged attempts to amend the constitution for a second term. The U.S. intervened by landing Marines in Beirut to stabilize the government.

Chamoun refused to resign despite widespread opposition and the formation of a rebel government in Tripoli. He remained in power until the end of his term in September 1958, when he handed over to Fuad Chehab.

After leaving the presidency, Chamoun founded the National Liberal Party (NLP) in 1958. The party became a major political force representing Maronite Christian interests and played a role in the Lebanese Civil War.

Chamoun's National Liberal Party and its militia, the Tigers, fought in the Lebanese Civil War as part of the Christian Lebanese Front. He opposed the Taif Agreement and remained a polarizing figure until his death in 1987.

During Lytton's tenure, a severe famine struck southern India, particularly the Madras Presidency and Mysore, from 1876 to 1878. The famine caused an estimated 5 to 10 million deaths. Lytton's government was criticized for inadequate relief efforts and for continuing to export grain while people starved.

Lytton organized the Delhi Durbar in 1877 to proclaim Queen Victoria as Empress of India. The grand ceremony was intended to assert British imperial authority and loyalty among Indian princes. However, it was criticized for its extravagance during a time of severe famine in southern India.

Lord Lytton, as Viceroy of India, initiated the Second Anglo-Afghan War in 1878 to counter Russian influence in Afghanistan. British forces invaded Afghanistan, leading to the Treaty of Gandamak in 1879, which gave Britain control over Afghan foreign affairs. The war was costly and controversial, and British forces later withdrew after a rebellion in Kabul.

Lytton enacted the Vernacular Press Act in 1878, which imposed strict censorship on Indian-language newspapers. The act allowed the government to confiscate presses and punish editors for publishing 'seditious' material. It was widely criticized as repressive and was repealed in 1881 by Lytton's successor.