Lord William Bentick (Continued):
1st Government General of Bengal.
Then called 1st Government General of India by Charter Act 1833. (Reason: East India Company expanded territory).
5. Charles Metcalfe:
Liberator to press (mostly for English newspapers).
6. Lord Dalhousie (1848 – 1856):
Government General of India for 8 years).
Young, highly intellectual, modern Governor General
Excelled in technical field.
1st Railways built and run during Dalhousie period. 1st Railway line introduced Between Bombay and Thane in 1853 (Railway planning started in 1820 by British).
1st Telegraph line introduced between Agra and Calcutta.
Railway lines and Telegraph lines introduced only to ease British Administration and not made for people of India
PWD (Public Works Department) – founded by Dalhousie
Field of Education – Wood’s Dispatch (Sir Charles Wood sent a dispatch to Lord Dalhousie):
Introduced Anglo – vernacular schools in 1854, i.e., Schools functioned in both English and Vernacular language.
During his period English language became a medium of education by Lord Macaulay. (Lord Macaulay drafted the Indian Penal Code).
During his period Inter – level education were segregated into 3 – Primary, Secondary, Higher Secondary.
Lord Dalhousie introduced Doctrine of Lapse. Under Doctrine of Lapse, if a king does not have a male heir, after his death the kingdom should be brought under the control of East India Company.
Numerous kingdoms were brought under control by Doctrine of Lapse. Among those 6 prominent kingdoms were (starting from 1848 to 1854) - Satara, Jaipur, Sambalpur, Udaipur, Jhansi, Nagpur. (Acronym – SJSUJN).
Awadh was captured by Lord Dalhousie. Awadh was ruled by Wajid Ali Shah (befriended with british). Birjis Qadr was the male heir of Wajid Ali Shah and Begum Hazrat Mahal.
Even though Wajid Ali Shah had a male heir and made a good governance in Awadh, British annexed Awadh claiming that mis-governance was made by Wajid Ali Shah.
7. Lord Canning:
Last Governor General of India during Great Revolt of 1857
1st Viceroy of India
Brought General Service Enlistment Act 1856
1st Governor General of India – Warren Hasting (1772)
Last Governor General of India – Lord Canning (1858)
1st Viceroy of India – Lord Canning (1858)
Last Viceroy of India – MountBatten (1948)
Great Revolt:
Political causes:
Subsidiary Alliance which was brought by Lord Wellesley
Doctrine of Lapse which was brought by Lord Dalhousie
Annexation of Awadh (by claiming the mis-governance of Wajid Ali Shah by british even though good governance was made)
British ordered that after the death of Bahadur Shah –II, Mughals should vacate the Royal Palace.
Economic causes:
East India Company introduced 3 economic systems
Growth if textile industry of India decreased due to the advent of cheap and finished goods from Britain.
Minimum tax was imposed in Zamindhari system. Huge tax was imposed in Ryotwari and Mahalwari systems.
Caused huge Unemployment, Poverty, Slavery and Famine.
This created a discontent between Indians and British.
Administrative causes:
Worst and costly judicial system.
After the advent of East India Company, English language became a dominant language. (Before British, Persian language was followed – by Mughals). Even Upper caste people found it difficult to speak English.
Social and Religious causes:
Since British people were Christians, direct and indirect missionaries occurred.
They interfered religious practices of India.
Despite the fact that Sati is wrong, it is a practice a religious practice followed by Brahmins. Sati was then abolished by British.
According to the religion followed in India, Widow Remarriage is not allowed. Lord Dalhousie in 1856 allowed Widow Remarriages.
Military causes:
Even though 80% of the soldiers under East India Company were Indians, they were paid with less salary and no promotion were given.
Indian soldiers face racial discrimination.
According to Lord Canning’s General Service Enlistment Act, Indian soldiers under East India Company were allotted out of India. This was against the upper caste people as they do not allow their family members out of India.
Immediate causes:
New Enfield rifle was introduced by British. The edge of the cartridge should be teared by biting it. But the edge was covered with fat of cow and pigs.
This created a discontent to the Brahmins and Muslims.
East India Company forced Indians to use this rifle.
In Barrackpore, in 34 Native Infantry, Mangal Pandey refused to take training with the new Enfield rifle. But he was forced to use it. He then shot his superior officer with that rifle. The next day Mangal Pandey was executed. The 34 Native Infantry was dismantled and sent to Meerut.
These causes led Indians against British.
Courses of the revolt:
Revolt occurred in Meerut, Lucknow, Kanpur, Jhansi and Bihar.
Begun in Meerut. Rebellion by Bahadur Shah – II and his General Bakht Khan against Nicholson and Hudson.
In Lucknow, Begum Hazrat Mahal - against Colin Campbell and James Neil.
In Kanpur, Nana Saheb (adopted son of Baji Rao – II) – against Colin Campbell.
In Jhansi, Laksmibai – against Hugh Rose
In Bihar, Maulavi Ahmadullah and Kunwar singh – against Colin Campbell.
British took around 18 months to capture Lucknow alone. This is because, not only Begum Hazrat Mahal but the entire people fought against British. In Lucknow, if there are 3 sons in a family, 1st son should work in Awadh army, 2nd son should work as a farmer (since Lucknow has fertile lands in Gangetic plains) and 3rd son should work as a soldier in East India Company. So the Indian soldiers in East India Company indirectly helped people in Lucknow.
Jamed Neil came to know about this and used unethical practices against women and children.
Causes of failure of the revolt:
British had the advantage of having highly modern weapons.
There was no unity among Indians. For example Marathas and Sindhyas were great supporters of East India Company.
There was no common goal or no clear plan.
Railway lines and Telegraph lines eased the commuting of British.
90% of the Kingdoms belonged to Muslims – Orthodox Hindus opposed them.
Around 10 lakh Indians were prisoned and 25000 to 30000 Indians were killed.
In East India Company around 7000 to 10000 soldiers were killed among which 2000 to 3000 were British soldiers. This led to the protest by British families in the parliament. In 1858, East India Company was abolished and British government directly took charge.
Queen Victoria Proclamation – 1858:
No more annexations of kingdoms and some annexed kingdoms were returned.
No Subsidiary alliance
No Doctrine of Lapse
Last Governor General of India – Lord Canning (1858)
1st Viceroy of India – Lord Canning (1858)
1757 to 1858 – East India Company
1858 to 1947 – British Government
Credits : Leo Subheksha Kumar
