Write a critical note on
the British East India Company. [NU-‘16,‘18]
Ans. Edmund Burke’s ‘Speech
on the East India Bill’ is a sordid picture of the abuse of the chartered
power of the East India Company. The company had been chartered in 1600 as a
commercial company with a monopoly of British trade with India. In 1773 and
earlier, Burke and the Rockingham Whigs had strenuously objected on the grounds
to bringing the East India Company under government control. They considered it
an attack on private property and chartered rights and a dangerous extension of
the power of the Crown. Between 1773 to 1783, their thinking on the problem of
British government in India went through a radical change.
However, Burke gradually became convinced that the
Company was not only exercising political power but also was abusing it badly
to the detriment of the people of India. As a result, his ‘Speech on the
East India Bill’ was an indictment against the Company’s rule in India.
The agents of the Company enjoy all the rights by
charter and by acts of Parliament without any controversy. The chartered rights
are secured to the Company by every sort of public sanction. They are stamped by
the faith of the king and of Parliament. The Company has bought the rights in
exchange for money. The agents of the Company enjoy unlimited power.
Despotism, tyranny, atrocity, corruption,
arbitrariness etc. characterised the Company’s abuse of power in India. The
East India Company commits great abuses in India. The Company has sold every
prince, state or potentate. For example, Shah Alam, the de facto Emperor of
India, became victim to the East India Company’s maladministration. Warren
Hastings, the first Governor-General of India, sold him for money. Hastings
also sold the whole nation of the Afghan Rohillas to Shuja-ud-Daulah of Oude
for the sum of four hundred thousand pounds. Hafiz Rahmat Khan was invaded
Shuja-ud-Daulah. While fighting valiantly for his country, Hafiz was slain. His
head was cut off and delivered for his money to a barbarian. His wife and
children were seen begging handful of rice through the English camp. The whole
nation was massacred and the country was damaged by the invasion and turned
into a dreary desert and jungles.
In Bengal, the Company’s army overthrow
Siraj-ud-Daulah at Plassey in 1757 after large sums of money had been promise
by Mir Jafar. In 1760, when the Company received territory and when Mir Qasim
paid money to some individuals, the administrative power was shifted from Mir
Jafar to Mir Qasim. Mir Jafar was again restored in 1763 for a large sum of
money. Mir Jafar was followed by his eldest son Najm-ud-Daulah who had to pay
heavily for his succession in 1765. Mir Jafar’s another son, Mubarak-ud-Daulah
was made powerless by appointing his step-mother Munni Begum as guardian to him
in 1772.
Once the Company accused two old women in the
remotest corner of India of being engaged in rebellion in order to extract
money from them. These two old women were the famous Begums of Oude who had
controlled a large income from land grants and were custodians of a hoard of
treasure. They were accused of rebellion and were announced guilty of hoarding
wealth. They were forced to give money to the Company. Their jewels and other
personal properties were taken and were sold at auction.
The natives of India were ruined by the hypocrisy
of the Company. The first women in Bengal such as the Rani of Rajeshahi, the
Rani of Burdwan and the Rani of Amboa were ruined by their thoughtless trust in
the Company’s honour and protection. Mohammad Reza Khan was stripped of all his
employment and was reduced to the lowest condition for having been
distinguished by the honour of the countenance and protection of the Court of
Directors. His ancient rival of power, Rajah Nundcomar was hanged in the face
of his people for a consequence of providing evidence against Hastings.
In fine, we may say, the East India Company took
refuge to fraud and evasion as guiding principles for ruling India. In this
regard, their attitude were that of merchants and self-aggrandizement was their
primary motto – “there was not a single prince, state or potentate, great or
small, in India, with whom they have come into contact, whom they have not
sold”. In fact, the natives of India fall victim to the maladministration
of the Company.
.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Written & Edited By
SHUVASHISH
MALLICK
.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
BIBLIOGRAPHY
– Textbook
(FBC), A Study Guide (FBC) & Handnote Series (Lecture).
0 Comments
Drop your comment here ⬇