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

Notes • He, contended that the vernacular languages contained neither literary value nor scientific
information and that “a single shelf of a good European library was worth the whole native
literature of India and Arabia.” He further wrote, “What the Greek and Latin were to the
contemporaries of More and Ascham our tongue is to the people of India.”
• Macaulay’s views were accepted and embodied in a Resolution of March 7, 1835, which decreed
that English would be the official language of India in the higher branches of adrmnistration.
• Since then English language, English literature, English political literature and English natural
sciences have formed the basis of higher education in India.
• The heavy drain of Burmese War had depleted the treasury of the Company. In 1828 public
expenditure far exceeded the revenue. In the words of Charles Metcalfe, “The Government
which allows this to go on in time of peace deserves any punishment.” With an eye on the
Charter debates, the Home authorities had enjoined on Bentinck the policy of peace and
economies in public expenditure.
• Bentinck appointed two committees, one military and one civil, to make recommendations for
effecting economy in expenditure. Under special instructions from the Court of Directors,
Bentinck reduced the bhatta, i.e. extra or additional allowance paid to military officer. The new
rules decreed that in case of troops stationed within 400 miles of Calcutta one-half bhatta would
be allowed. Thus, a saving of £ 20,000 a year was effected. The allowances of civil servants were
also reduced.
• William Bentinck abolished these courts, transferring their duties to magistrates and collectors
under the supervision of Commissioner of Revenue and Circuit. For the convenience of the
public of Upper Provinces (present-day U.P.) and Delhi, a separate Sadr Nizamat Adalat and a
Sadr Diwani Adalat were set up at Allahabad and the residents of these areas were no longer
under the necessity of travelling a thousand miles to file their appeals at Calcutta.
5.6 Key-Words

1. Thug : A cruel or vicious ruffian, robber
2. Sati : A Hindu customs in India in which the widow was burnt to ashes on her dead
husband’s pyre.
3. Infanticide : Intentional killing of infants within 24 hours of a child birth

5.7 Review Questions

1. Write a short note on the Judicial reforms of William Bentinck.
2. Discuss financial reforms of Bentinck.
3. Assess the administrative and educational reforms by William Bentinck.
Answers-Self Assessment
1. (i) William Bentinck (ii) 1829 (iii) Pansigar
(iv) Colonel Sleeman (v) March 7, 1835
5.8 Further Readings

1. V.D. Mahajan, History of Modern India, S. Chand and Co. Ltd. New Delhi.
2. Chandra, Bipin, India’s Struggle for Freedom (1857–1947) Penguin, Delhi, 1996.

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