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Indian Freedom Struggle (1707–1947 A.D.)

Notes 1. Administrative breakdown: Owing to the impotence of the Nizamat, the administration of law
and order virtually broke down and the administration of justice was reduced to a farce. While
the Nawab had no power to enforce law and provide justice, the Company on their part disavowed
all responsibility for administration. In the countryside the dacoits roamed freely and the Sannyasi
raiders reduced the government to a mockery. Sir George Cornewall declared in the British House
of Commons in 1858, “I do most confidently maintain that no civilised government ever existed
on the face of this earth which was more corrupt, more perfidious and more rapacious than the
government of the East India Company from 1765 to 1784”.
2. Decline of Agriculture: Bengal, once the granary of India was laid waste. The land revenue was
annually farmed out to the highest bidder. The tax collectors or contractors had no permanent
interest in the land and they rack rented the cultivators. The Bengali peasant suffered from the
evils of over-assessment, harshness of collection and was subjected to the worst exactions by
government officials.
Then came the famine of 1770 which produced untold miseries and took a heavy tool of life. “The
scene of misery that intervened” observed a servant of the Company in 1770, “and still continues,
shocks humanity too much to bear description. Certain it is, that in several parts the living have
been fed on the dead”. During the famine land revenue was collected with severity and even
extortion practised, while the servants of the Company added to the misery of the people by
trading and profiteering in essential articles of foodstuff.
3. Disruption of Trade and Commerce: Agricultural depression adversely affected the trade and
commerce of the country. By the firman of 1717 issued by Emperor Farrukhsiyar the Company
had been granted the privileges of trading duty-free in Bengal. This concession authorised the
President of the Company at Calcutta to issue dastaks or pass chits exempting the goods mentioned
in it from duty, stoppage or even inspection. If its legitimate use worked against the interests of
the country, its misuse ruined the country merchants and traders. The Company’s servants virtually
monopolised the internal trade of Bengal and would undersell the Indian merchants in the local
markets. Clive himself referred to these abuses in the course of a speech in the House of Commons
when he said that the Company’s merchants traded not only as merchants but as sovereigns and
had “taken the bread out of the mouths of thousands and thousands of merchants, who used
formerly to carry on the trade, and who are, now reduced to beggary”.
4. Ruination of Industry and Skill: The weaving industry of Bengal received a rude setback. The
Company used political power to discourage the silk industry in Bengal, for the silk fabrics of
Bengal competed with silk fabrics manufactured in England in the English markets. In 1769 the
Court of Directors sent orders to the Bengal authorities urging them to encourage the manufacture
of raw silk and discourage the weaving of silk fabrics. Thus the silk winders of Bengal were
compelled to work in the Company’s factories. To save themselves from such oppression and
compulsion many silkwinders of Bengal cut off their thumbs. It was no longer profitable for the
weaver to weave much when he could not keep the gains of his labour. William Bolts, a
contemporary, wrote about the various and innumerable methods of oppressing the poor weavers
which were duly practised by the Company’s agents or gomastahs in the country, such as by fines,
imprisonments, floggings, forcing bonds from them etc. Bolts mentions that the black gomastahs
(agents) did not obtain the consent of the poor weaver, but invariably forced him to sign the
contract and receive advance money.
5. Moral Degradation: Moral degradation also set in the Bengal society. The farmer realised that the
more he laboured the more he would have to pay to the revenue-farmers and government officials
would work no more than was absolutely necessary for the bare needs of his family. Similarly, the
weaver who could not keep all the reward of his hard work did not give his best to his work. The
incentive for work being no longer there, the society became static and showed unmistakable
signs of decay.
English in Bengal from 1757-1772: Clive had the resolution of a task-master and the boldness of a
dictator. The soldierly qualities of decisive action were amply displayed in his administrative reforms.

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