History - Rulers of British India (Part - 1)

Robert Clive (1757-60) (1765-67)

1. Robert Clive started his career as a clerk in the English East India Company, and he became the Governor of Bengal, following the victory of the Company forces under him in the Battle of Plassey (1757). The Battle of Plassey laid the foundation of the British Empire in India.

2. Roger Drake held the post of the Governor of Bengal for a brief period before Clive.

3. Governor of Bengal twice; from 1757 - 60 and again from 1765-67.

4. Started dual Govt. in Bengal in 1765. It was a system intended to obtain the services of the officials of the erst-while Nawab of Bengal in revenue administration.

5. He forbade the servants of company from indulging in private trade and made payment of internal duties by them obligatory.

6. Bengal White Mutiny by the European brigades at Allahabad and Monghyr, they were arrested and tried.

7. Following the first tenure of Clive, Holwell officiated as the Governor of Bengal for a brief time, followed by Vansittart (1760-1765).

8. Henry Verelst (1767-69) and Cartier (1769-72) succeeded Clive after his second term.

9. The Battle of Buxar was fought and won by the Company forces (1764) when Vansittart was the Governor. The English forces were led by Holwell and the peace treaty (Treaty of Allahabad) was negotiated by Clive. The Battle of Buxar secured the British Empire in India.

10. When he returned to England, Clive was charged with corrupting the political life of England with the ill-gotten money in India. The charges against him included acceptance of bribe and abusing the office of the Governor of Bengal.

11. Though Clive was acquitted, he led a desperate life and committed suicide.

Warren Hastings (1772-85)

1. Became the Governor of Bengal in 1772 and Governor - General in 1774, following the Regulating Act (1773). It was the first Act passed on India by the British Parliament. Following this, the British Parliament got some law-making powers over the land in India, ruled by the English East India Company.

2. Introduced quinquennial settlement of land revenue in 1772 farming out of lands to the highest bidder, later on he reversed to annual settlement (1777) on the basis of open auction to the highest bidder

3. Abolished ‘Dual Government’ in 1772.

4. Created a Diwani and Fuajidari Adalat in 1772.

5. With the passage of the Regulatory in Act in 1773, he became the first to hold the post of Governor General in 1774.

6. Divided Bengal into revenue districts and made appointment of the collectors and the other revenue officials. Thus, the system of collectors heading the administration of revenue districts began.

7. Codified Hindu & Muslim Laws (1776).

8. Trial of Nand Kumar and his judicial murder in 1775.

9. In 1776 Manu’s law was translated into English under the title “Code of Gentoo Laws”.

10. Started Diwani and Faujdari adalats at the district level and Sadar Diwani and Nizamat adalats (appeal courts) in Calcutta.

11. Associated with the Chait Singh (Benaras Rajah) Affair, 1778. Chait Singh was deposed of his throne and imprisoned because he failed to meet Warren Hastings’ demands for excess levy. Mahip Narayan was installed on the throne of Benaras.

12. In 1780 James August Hickey started a weekly paper called Bengal Gazette or Calcutta General Advertiser.

13. Foundation of Asiatic society of Bengal with the help of William Jones in 1784.The intention of the society was to study the classical languages of India and translate the ancient Sanskrit texts into English.

14. In 1791 William Jones and Colebrook prepared Digest of Hindu laws. It was the first codification of Hindu Laws in India. Jones also translated Kalidasa's classical drama"Abhjnana Shakuntalam" in to English

15. The Calcutta Madrasa was established by Warren Hastings in 1781. It was one of the pioneering initiatives of the orientalists.

16. Fatwa-i-Alamgiri was also translated.

17. Rohilla War (1774), First Anglo Maratha war (1776-82) and Second Anglo Mysore war (1780-84) took place.

18. The against the Rohillas of Bundhelkhand (southern UP and south-western MP) was fought to help the Nawab of Oudh whom the former owed a huge tribute. The Rohillas were defated at Miranpukatra. This incident tarnished the image of Warren Hasitngs in England.

19. Wilkins translated Gita and Hitopadesa in English. It was the first translation of the Gita into English and the introduction to the book was written by Warren Hastings.

20. Syed Ghulam Hussain wrote Siyar-ul-Mutqherin.

21. Pitt’s India Act was passed in 1984, ensuring grater control of Parliament over the land in India ruled by the Company. It also enhanced the powers of the Governor General.

22. Resigned in 1785, following differences of opinions with the British Prime Minister William Pitt.

23. He returned to England in 1785 and impeachment proceedings were initiated against him in the House of Lords. He was eventually acquitted after a trial of 7 years. The charges of impeachment were based on the following incidents:

i. The affairs of Chait Singh

ii. The Rohilla War

iii. The ill-treatment of the Begums of Oudh, and

iv. The Nand Kumar affair.

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