Modern History (Historical Event Prior to revolt of 1857) by Shivlal Gupta

Model Answer

Question #1. Though Dalhousie was infamous for forced annexation to expand British territory, he laid down the foundation of modern infrastructure in the country and several reforms in society.

Approach:

• Introduce by briefly describing Dalhousie’s tenure as the Governor-General of British India (40 words)
• Mention about Dalhousie’s expansionary policies (85 words)
• Describe Dalhousie’s contribution to modernization (85 words)
• Conclusion (40 words)

Hints:

Lord Dalhousie was the British governor-general of India from 1847 to 1856, who introduced a number of reforms which paved the way for the modernisation of India and also earned the title, “Maker of the Modern India”.

Dalhousie’s expansionary policies

Doctrine of lapse 

The most repressive and last phase of territorial expansion of British was visible with introduction of Doctrine of lapse by Dalhousie which provided that when the ruler of protected state died without a natural heir, it wasn’t allowed to adopt a heir but to be annexed to British India. Satara, Nagpur, Jhansi and Udaipur and several other states were annexed under this doctrine.

Second Anglo Sikh War

Punjab and The first major conflict during the early period of Lord Dalhousie was the Second Anglo Sikh war in 1848-49, which ended with annexation of Punjab and end of Sikh Kingdom. 

Second Burmese War

In 1852 commercial disputes in Rangoon prompted new hostilities between the British and the Burmese, a conflict that became the Second Burmese War. It was settled within the year with little loss of life and with the British annexation of Rangoon and the rest of Pegu province. 

Annexation of Awadh 1856

Awadh which was one of the most fertile lands was annexed on ground of maladministration. The Kingdom of Oudh was the only great Indian state whose ruler Nawab Wajid Ali Shah was dispossessed on the ground of “intolerable misgovernment”.

Military Reforms:

After the conquest of Punjab, Sindh and Avadh, the frontiers of the company were extended and the military interest of India was transferred to the North. Thus, Dalhousie shifted the headquarters of the Bengal Artillery from Calcutta to Meerut. The army head-quarter was also transferred to Shimla so that the army could remain is touch with Governor-General who resided is Shimla.

Thus, motive of Dalhousie to extend direct control over Indian Territory to safeguard British exports was successful but it his act provoked the evicted Zamindars and rulers to revolt against the company in 1857.

Despite his infamous annexation policy and expansion, Dalhousie made several contributions to lay the foundation of modern infrastructure in the country:

• Railways: Dalhousie introduced a new system of internal communication in India. He was the father of Indian Railways. Dalhousie’s famous Railway Minute of 1853 convinced the home authorities of the need of the railways and laid down the main lines of their development. He envisaged a network of railways connecting the main places with the ports and providing both for strategically needs and commercial development. Besides facilitating trade and commerce, minimizing distances the railways have gone a long way in uniting India.
• Telegraph: In 1852 Dalhousie introduced the Electric Telegraph System in India. The first telegraph line from Calcutta to Agra was opened in 1854, covering 800 miles. By 1857, it was extended to Lahore and Peshawar. People could send message from one place to another place very easily by this telegraph system.
• Post: The credit of establishing Postal Department also goes to Lord Dalhousie. In 1854, a new Post Office Act was passed. Under this system, a Director-General was appointed to supervise the work of Post Offices in all the Presidencies; a uniform rate of half-anna per letter was introduced and for the first-time postage stamps were issued.
• Trade: Dalhousie’s commercial reforms were designed to throw open the produce and market of India to the exploitation of English Capital. All ports of India were declared free. The harbors of Karachi, Bombay and Calcutta were developed and light houses were also constructed. All the sea-trade was captured by the English merchants who had power and resources.
• Public work department: Separate Public work department was established in every province. The Chief Works of this department was to construct roads, bridges and government buildings.
• Canals: Ganges Canal was declared open to enhance assured irrigation and increase agriculture productivity.

Social Reforms:

• Dalhousie abolished female infanticide which was prevalent among the Rajputs of higher castes. He also abolished the practice of human sacrifice practiced by the Khonds of Orissa, Madras and Central Provinces who had blind belief that the fertility of the soil would be increased by sacrificing human beings.
• Widow Remarriage Act, 1856 was passed which legalized the marriage of Hindu widows. Thus, it improved the life of women in Indian society.
• Anglo-vernacular schools and government colleges were opened on recommendation of Wood’s Educational Despatch. Universities were also proposed to be open in Bengal, Bombay and Madras presidencies. The Wood’s dispatch laid the foundations of modern education system.
• Dalhousie’s special contribution was the construction of an engineering college at Roorkee and in other presidencies. He thus ranks as the father of technical education as distinct from professional education in India.

Conclusion:

Though Dalhousie created modern infrastructure in India but the motive was to enhance control of British administration over India, increased penetration of British goods in Indian markets and perpetuation of exploit of resources of the India. Nevertheless, but most of the reforms of Dalhousie took India to the path of modernization.

Question #2. The victory of the British in the Battle of Plassey laid the Political foundation stone for the British Empire in India. Examine. Also, discuss the change in the character of the company’s administration after the Battle of Plassey. 

Approach

• Introduce about the Battle of Plassey (40 words)
• Write down the significance of the Battle wrt British Empire in India. (90 words)
• Discuss the change in company’s administration after the Battle. (70 words)
• Conclusion (50 words)

Hints

The Battle of Plassey was fought between the British East India Company and the Nawab of Bengal and his close allies, the French troops. The battle was won on June 23, 1757, leading to the consolidation of the British in Bengal and later expanding other territories of India.

Background of Battle of Plassey

• The Battle of Plassey was fought on the banks of the Bhagirathi River near Calcutta and Murshidabad which was the then capital city of Bengal. According to some historians, it was more of skirmishes than a battle.
• When Alvardi Khan who was the Nawab of Bengal died in April 1756, his son Siraj-Ud-daula succeeded him. The young Nawab immediately laid siege to Calcutta, capturing it and imprisoning several British officials in June 1756.
• Robert Clive concluded that the only way to secure the interest of the Company was to replace Siraj with a friendly Nawab. General Mir Jafar was found as a possible replacement and a secret agreement was passed to Mir Jafar’s residence.

Significance of battle of Plassey

• The beginnings of British political sway over India may be traced back to the battle of Plassey in 1757, when the English East India Company’s forces defeated Siraj-ud-Daulah, the Nawab of Bengal.
• The Company was granted undisputed right to free trade in Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.
• It also received the Zamindari of the 24 Parganas near Calcutta.
• The new Nawab, Mir Jaffar, was dependent on the British for the maintenance of his position in Bengal. An English army of 6000 troops was maintained in Bengal.
• The wealth paid to British immediately after Plassey was a sum of £800,000
• Mir Jaffar regretted the deal that he struck with British later when he was reduced to a puppet leader only.
• Prior to 1757 the English trade in Bengal was largely financed through import of bullion from England; but after that year not only bullion import stopped, but bullion was exported from Bengal to China and other parts of India, which gave a competitive advantage to the English Company over its European rivals.

Change in the character of the company’s administration

• The battle of Plassey was of immense historical importance. It paved way for British mastery of Bengal and eventually the whole of India.
• It boosted British prestige and at a single stroke raised them to the status of major contender for the Indian Empire. Before the battle, it was only just another European company trading in Bengal. But after Plassey they monopolized trade of Bengal.
• Plassey had brought about a gradual transformation in the character of the Company. In the context of the then politics, military control was synonymous with political body. Thus, the Company played a role of commercial-cum-military-cum- political body.
• The rich revenues of Bengal enabled them to organize a strong army and meet the cost of conquest of the rest of the country.
• Control over Bengal played a decisive role in the Anglo French struggle where British were finally victorious.
• The victory of Plassey enabled the Company with its servants to amass untold wealth at the cost of helpless people of Bengal.
• The conflict at Plassey was also crucial for the East India Company’s triumph over its French rivals.

Conclusion

Events that occurred after the victory at the Battle of Plassey had changed the British East India Company from a trading company to a central power. Thus, the Battle of Plassey marked the beginning of political supremacy of the English East India Company in India.