Page 88 - DHIS204_DHIS205_INDIAN_FREEDOM_STRUGGLE_HINDI

Unit 7: The First Major Challenge

7.4 Aftermath of the Revolt Notes

The Revolt of 1857 though completely suppressed had shaken the British rule in India from its
very foundations. Lord Cromer once remarked: “I wish the Young generation of the English
would read, mark, learn and inwardly digest the history of the Indian Mutiny: it abounds in
lessons and warnings”. The techniques of controlling India though well established by ‘1857 were
confirmed and uniformly acted upon thereafter. The reactionary and vested interests were well
protected and encouraged and became pillars of British rule in India: the policy of divide and rule
was deliberately pursued and made the main prop of British control; tight European control over
key positions both in the civil and military administration was maintained.
1. The control of Indian administration was transferred from the East India Company to the
Crown by the Government of India Act 1858. In the words of Sir H.S. Cunningham the change
was ‘formal’ rather than ‘substantial’. Sir Henry Rawnnson director of the Company who
favoured abolition of the Company correctly summed up the significance of the change: “The
one great result will be a change of name, which may enable us to condone the past—the
immediate past—and to set out from a fresh starting point into a fresh career of empire.” In
India the same sort of Governor-General and the same military and civil service continued as
before. In Britain the Act of 1858 provided for the appointment of a Secretary of State for India,
who was to be assisted by an Advisory Council of fifteen: Eight members to be nominated by
the Crown and seven members at first to be selected by the Court of Directors and afterwards
by co-option by the Council itself. Thus the former directors of the Company sat on the India
Council. No new policy was inaugurated. Rather, in the proclamation of 1 November 1858 the
Queen announced a continuation of the Company’s policies.
Ever since 1784 the Crown through the Board of Control had exercised considerable influence
over Indian affairs and, in fact, had the deciding voice in all major issues. The Act of 1858
ended the dualism in the control of Indian affairs and made the Crown directly responsible for
management of Indian affairs.
2. The Queen’s announcement declared against any desire for “extension of territorial possessions”
and promised “to respect the rights, dignity and honour of native princes as their own”, while
general amnesty was granted to “all offenders, save and except those who have been or shall
be convicted of having directly taken part in the murder of British subjects”. The Indian states
had served as “breakwaters to the storm which would otherwise have swept over us in one
great wave” and to preserve them as the bulwark of the Empire became a cardinal principle of
British policy. The Taluqdars of Oudh who had joined in large numbers in the rebellion were
reinstated and confirmed in their estates subject to promises of loyalty and future good
behaviour. In the words of Pt. Nehru, these taluqdars took pride in calling themselves the
‘Barons of Oudh’ and became one of the pillars of British rule. Thus feudal and reactionary
elements became the favourite children of imperialism.
3. The Proclamation of 1858 contained an assurance that “our subjects, of whatever race or creed,
be freely, and impartially admitted to office in our service, the duties of which they may be
qualified by their education, ability and integrity duly to discharge”. To give expression to this
pledge the Indian Civil Service Act of 1861 was passed, which provided for an annual competitive
examination to be held in London for recruitment to the Covenanted Civil Service. Unfortunately,
the detailed rules framed for the conduct of this examination had the effect of keeping the
higher services a close preserve of the Englishman.
4. The Indian Army had been mainly responsible for the crisis of 1857. It was thoroughly
reorganised and built up on the policy of ‘division and counterpoise’. The Army Amalgamation
Scheme of 1861 transferred the Company’s European troops to the services of the Crown. The
European troops in India were constantly renovated by periodical visits to England in what
came to be known as the ‘linked-battalion’ scheme. The strength of European troops in India
was increased from the pre 1857 figure of 45,000 to 65,000 and the number of Indian troops
reduced from the pre-1857 figure of 238,000 to 140,000. All Indian artillery units (with the exception
of a few mountain batteries) were disbanded. The general formula followed was that in Bengal

LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY 83