There is nothing strange in the fact that the East India Company succeeded in establishing its suzerainty over India. Having got a foothold in the various provinces it extended its rule over the entire peninsula and established by law what is known as the British Government in India : in other words, it established the State and carried on the political and commercial functions jointly. As a result of this combined activity the fiscal administration of the Company in India was an entangled phenomenon. The commercial and revenue returns were merged together without any attempt at distinction, therefore, has to pass over the entire period ending in 1814 when by an Act of Parliament the Company was compelled to keep separate accounts of Finance and Commerce. This act had kept companies Black money in control, but the eyes of British Government was on it. It is an error to suppose that the East India Company was abolished because of her inefficiency as manifested in the Mutiny of 1857. On the contrary, before the mutiny had actually taken place, the discussion about the direct assumption of the Government of India by the Crown was set afloat, which is indicative of the fact that mutiny or no mutiny, the British statesmen were impatient to have direct control over the India. Unfortunately, the mutiny did occur in 1857 and gave a strong impetus to the abolition movement already in full swing. Government of India Act 1858
The main provisions of the bill were:
The Company's territories in India were to be vested in the Queen, the Company ceasing to exercise its power and control over these territories. India was to be governed in the Queen's name.
The Queen's Principal Secretary of State received the powers and duties of the Company's Court of Directors. A council of fifteen members was appointed to assist the Secretary of State for India. The council became an advisory body in India affairs. For all the communications between Britain and India, the Secretary of State became the real channel.
The Secretary of State for India was empowered to send some secret dispatches to India directly without consulting the Council. He was also authorized to constitute special committees of his Council.
The Crown was empowered to appoint a Governor-General and the Governors of the Presidencies.
Provision for the creation of an Indian Civil Service under the control of the Secretary of State.
All the property of the East India Company was transferred to the Crown. The Crown also assumed the responsibilities of the Company as they related to treaties, contracts, and so forth.
This was the whole story of the British Government how they captured the India and still some Indians think that it was bye the Rebellion of 1857.
Monday, March 23, 2009
East India Company and Indian Rebellion of 1857
the East India Company as a Political Sovereign and the Finances without dilating upon its development from a Commercial Concern into a Political Sovereign.
Actually entitled An Act for the Better Government of India is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom passed on August 2, 1858. Its provisions called for the liquidation of the British East India Company (who had up to this point been ruling British India under the auspices of Parliament) and the transference of its functions to the British Crown. Lord Palmerston, then-Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, introduced a bill for the transfer of control of the Government of India from the East India Company to the Crown, referring to the grave defects in the existing system of the government of India.
- Tushar Ingle
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