Lord Warren Hastings (1773-1785) – Governor General of Bengal – Modern India History Notes

Warren Hastings was a British colonial administrator who served as the first Governor of the Presidency of Fort William (Bengal), the head of the Supreme Council of Bengal, and thus the first de facto Governor-General of Bengal from 1772 to 1818. He and Robert Clive are credited with establishing the British Empire in India. He was a tireless organizer and reformer. He was accused of corruption and impeached in 1787, but was acquitted after a lengthy trial in 1795. In 1814, he was appointed to the Privy Councillor. In this article, we will discuss the background and activities of Warren Hastings in India which will be useful for UPSC exam preparation.

Warren Hastings

Warren Hastings - Background

• Warren Hastings was born on December 6, 1732, and attended Westminster School.
• In 1750, he joined the British East India Company as a clerk, and in 1752, he was promoted and sent to Kasimbazar, Bengal, which was the company's major trading post.
• Siraj-ud-Daulah imprisoned Warren Hasting and others at Kasimbazar because he was anti-European. Soon after, he fled to the island of Fulda, where he joined the Calcutta refugees.
• He later volunteered for Robert Clive's force.
• In 1758, he became a British resident in Murshidabad and was assigned certain jobs on behalf of Robert Clive.
• Warren Hastings (1732–1818) was the first Governor of the Presidency of Fort William (Bengal) in 1772 and the first Governor-General of Bengal in 1774, serving until his resignation in 1785.
• The First Anglo-Maratha war and the Second Anglo-Mysore war were fought during his reign.
• During his presidency, the Regulating Act of 1773 was passed.
• In 1785, he helped Sir William Jones establish the Asiatic Society of Bengal.

Tenure at Madras and Calcutta

• During his time at Madras, Hastings instituted a number of trading-related reforms.
• One of the reforms was to eliminate the middlemen, which would benefit both the Company and the Indian workers.
• Warren advocated for Robert Clive's vision of unifying the three major British administrations of Madras, Bombay, and Calcutta.
• Warren Hastings was appointed as Governor of Calcutta in 1771. During his presidency, the Bengal Famine occurred, killing 10 million people.
• The Regulating Act of 1773 was passed to bring the administrations of Madras and Bombay under the control of Bengal.
• It elevated Hastings from Governor to Governor-General. However, his authority was limited as a result of this promotion.
• It was due to the formation of the five-member Supreme Council of Bengal, one of whom was the Governor-General.

Significant Events under Warren Hastings

• The British government enacted the following acts during his tenure:
  • The Regulating Act of 1773
  • Act of Settlement Act, 1781 (Amending Act of 1781)
  • Pitt’s India Act, 1784
• Warren Hastings rejected the Treaty of Wadgaon and captured Ahmedabad, Bassein, and Gwalior during the first Anglo-Maratha war. Finally, he signed the Treaty of Salbai to end the war.
• During his reign, the Rohilla war of 1774 and the Second Mysore War of 1780-84 occurred.
• In 1779–1784, he led East India Company forces against a coalition of native states and the French. Finally, while France lost influence in India, the well-organized British side held its own.

Reforms under Warren Hastings

Abolition of Dual System

• Warren Hastings played a key role in the abolishment of the Dual System that had been established by Sir Robert Clive.
• Under the Dual System, the company had Diwani rights (that is right to collect revenue) and the Indian rulers had the power over administrative authority.
• Due to this system, the annual allowance of the kings was reduced to 16 Lakhs from 32 Lakhs.

Revenue Reforms

• To collect the revenue a Board of Revenue was set up at Calcutta. Calcutta now became the capital of Bengal in the year 1772.
• Also, the treasury was transferred from Murshidabad to the new capital.
• For every district, a British collector along with an Accountant General was appointed.

Judicial Reforms

• A lot of Judicial Reforms took place when Warren Hastings was in power.
• First was the abolishment of the judicial powers of Zamindars.
• Two types of Courts were established - Civil and Criminal along with two Appellate courts (One for civil and another for Criminal cases). All of them were established at Calcutta.
• The criminal court had an Indian judge. Muslims were to be judged according to their law in the Koran and Hindus, according to Hindu laws.

Trade and Regulation

• Warren Hastings ended the system of dastans.
• The officials of the company along with the traders highly misused the system of dastaks. Also, private trading by the officials was restricted.
• To create uniformity in the trade he implemented a uniform tariff of 2.5% for Indian and foreign goods.

Impeachment of Warren Hastings

• Between 1787 and 1795, Warren Hastings was impeached for his misbehavior while in Kolkata (then Calcutta).
• He was charged with managerial incompetence and personal corruption.
• Warren Hastings' impeachment was led by Edmund Burke (MP of the United Kingdom Parliament).
• The Impeachment of Warren Hastings failed in 1788 in the Parliament of Great Britain.
• Hastings was cited for wrongdoing during his tenure in Calcutta. It was related to mismanagement and private depravity.
• The inquiry happened and it displayed a broad range of debates concerning the position of the East India Company and expanding the empire of India.
• The trial of Warren Hastings was delayed for seven years. When the eventual verdict was given Hastings was overwhelmingly acquitted.

Conclusion

The passage of Pitt's India Act in 1784, which established a new constitution, convinced Hastings that he had little reason to stay. He resigned and returned to England in 1785. He was charged right away with "high crimes and misdemeanors. Parliament impeached him in 1786, but the trial began two years later and lasted seven years. The House of Lords acquitted him, but his personal fortune was depleted by his defense. The East India Company stepped in and provided him with funds and an annuity. On August 22, 1818, he died in Daylesford.

FAQs

MCQs

Question: With reference to educational institutes during colonial rule in India, consider the following pairs of Institution vs Founder:

1. Sanskrit College at Benaras: William Jones
2. Calcutta Madarsa: Warren Hastings
3. Fort William College: Arthur Wellesley

Which of the pairs given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2

(b) 2 only

(c) 1 and 3

(d) 3 only

Question: Consider the following statements: (UPSC 2005)

1. Warren Hastings was the first Governor-General who established a regular police force in India on the British pattern.
2. A Supreme Court was established at Calcutta by the Regulating Act, 1773.
3. The Indian Penal Code came into effect in the year 1860.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3