The history of Hasting’s Governor-Generalship would be incomplete without a brief reference to his relations with the council and the trial of Nanda Kumar. Hastings troubles knew no end since the arrival of the councillors appointed under the Regulating Act.
Of them Francis, Monson and Clavering formed a triumverate bitterly hostile to Hastings methods which he always wrapped in secrecy and which excited their suspicions.
Barwell alone supported him but as decisions were to be by a majority vote Hastings was generally overouted. Some relief followed the death of Monson in September 1776, for then Hastings with his casting vote could carry his proposals.
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The death of Clavering however, in August, 1777 gave Hastings complete mastery. Francis left alone could do nothing. The Hostility between Francis and Hastings was anything but edifying as it was based entirely on personal grounds.
It resulted in a dual between the two in which Hastings came out victorious and Francis was wounded by his rival. Soon after he left for England. That the Governor-General of India should seek to settle his private disputes by a dual will seem amazing to many reader at this distance of time but it was recognized practice in the 18th Century in Europe and the combatants incurred no odium. The Indian Contemporaries of Hastings, of course, looked upon it as a highly undefying spectacle.
The Trial of Nanda Kumar:
In March 1775 Nanda Kumar charged Hastings with having accepted presents to the tune of many lakhs among which were three and a half lakhs from Muni Begum, widow of Mir Jafar, for her appointment as guardian of her minor son.
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The appointment has been adversely criticised. Hastings admitted that he had received 1-1/2 Lakhs, when he visited Murshidabad but characterised it as ‘entertainment money’ and not as bribe.
He flew into a rage, left the chair, refusing to be tried by his own council in the presence of a ‘Wretch’ whom you all know to the basest of making; whether the charges of Nanda Kumar were true or false we shall never know, for before he could place evidence on the table; the poor ‘Wetch’ was prosecuted for forgery, tried and sentenced to death.
The forgery related to a will executed four years previously. The charge was made by one Mohan Prasad whom Hastings had shown special favours and with whom Nanda Kumar was no inimical terms. The judgement was pronounced by Sir Elijah lmply with whom Hastings relations were cordial.
The indecent haste with which Nanda Kumar was tried the unfairness of the trial, the insufficiency of the evidence on which he was convicted and above all the sentence of death for which there were no precedents, all produce the same reaction of which Francis spoke when he wrote ‘Nun coomar may have been a most nefarious scoundrel, but by God he spoke truth else why were they in such a hurry to hang him’.
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On August 5, 1775 Nanda Kumar was executed for a crime which did not prevent Clive form becoming the Lord of Plassey. His execution was a judicial murder. How far Hastings had was behind it we have no means of knowing. That he was extremely pleased at Nanda Kumar’s death is indubitable.
Hasting’s Foreign Policy:
Warren Hastings directed his attention to internal reforms so as to strengthen the British Empire in India. He also made endeavours to strengthen the foreign policy. The aim of his foreign policy was to establish and expand the British rule in India.
He wanted to consolidate the already acquired territories and protect them from foreign dangers. He wanted to safeguard Bengal which as an inexhaustible store house of all kinds of resources. He used Oudh as a buffer state and even helped the Nawab against the Rohillas.
Relations with Emperor Shah Alam II:
The Marathas under the capable and experienced leadership of Madhoji Sindia and Jaswant Rao Holkar had consolidated their position in Northern India. After overrunning Rajputana defeating the jats, expelling the Rohillah’s from the Doab.
The Marathas captured Delhi in February 1771. The same year, they escorted the Emperor to his throne in Delhi. In reward for their services the Emperor handed over to the Marathas Allahabad and Kara which Clive had given to him in 1765.
Warren Hastings decided to throw off the mask and stop the payment of the annual tribute to “the king of Shreds and Patches”. He mentioned that the company did not get the Diwani by the Emperor’s piece of Paper’, but by the best of all titles i.e., power. Later Hastings sold Allahabad and Kara to the Nawab of Oudh for Rs. 50 lakhs.
Relations with Oudh:
Clive had sought to create Oudh as a buffer State for the territories of the company. Every year the Nawab had asked help of the company’s troops worth-cut payment of extra expenses. The Nawab was looked upon with suspicion. Hastings proceeded to Banaras and concluded the treaty of Banaras (1773) with the Nawab.
By this treaty Allahabad was handed over to the Nawab for Rs. 50 lakhs. The Nawab agreed to increase the subsidy of the company’s troops from Rs. 30,000 a month to Rs. 2, 10,000 a month for one brigade when called for service.
The Rohilla War 1774:
The small kingdom of Rohilla Khand was ruled by the Afghans or the Rohillas. After the death of Aurangzeb Rohil Khand wanted to become an independent kingdom but the Nawab of Oudh had brought it under his protection. Hafiz Rahmat Khan was the able ruler of Rohila Khand. He consolidated his power and made his kingdom powerful and prosperous.
The Marathas had an eye for Rohil Khand. Suspecting their designs, the Rohilla asked for the help from the Nawab of Oudh. The English wanted the Rohil Khand should come under the control of their friend, the Nawab of Oudh.
The Nawab agreed to help the Rohillas if the Marathas attacked Rohil Khand. For this help the Rohillas would pay Rs. 40 lakhs to him. The Marathas attacked Rohil Khand in 1773 but had to return back without indulging into war on account of sudden death of Madhav Rao Peshwa.
The Nawab of Oudh demanded Rs. 40 lakhs which was agreed between them but Hafiz Rahman Khan refused to pay. Therefore in January 1774 the Nawab requested the English for help to attack Rohil Khand and promised the besides bearing the expenses of the army, he would also pay Rs. 40 lakhs to them.
Hastings accepted the proposal and sent British troops under the command of Colonel Champion. The Rohillas were defeated and Hafiz Rahmat Khan and about 20,000 Rohillas were banished from the country. Rohil Khand was annexed to Oudh.
Warren Hastings conduct has been subjected to severe censure for participation in the Rohilla war. Macaulay has charged Hastings with looking on collonsly by, while the Rohillas villages were burnt, their children but cheered and their women violated. Colonel Pearse called the operation “Un British”. Some Historians, however, support the Rohilla policy of Hastings on the following grounds:
1. Financial condition of the East India Company that time was critical and need of money for internal reform was very great.
2. On account of the new treaty with the Nawab it was necessary to help him.
3. The conduct of Hastings was politically expedient.
4. By annexation of Rohil Khand in the Oudh, Bengal became safe from the attacks of the Marathas. According to Sir John Strachey. “Judged by the result the policy of Hastings was eminently successful.
It gave Oudh and Bengal a permanent security”. In view of the views expressed by historians in favour and against the Rohilla policy of Hastings, it may be concluded that it was just from the Moral and Political points of views. According to Thompson and garrest, “Rohillas had done the English no Wrong. Their right to be where they were at least as good as the English right to Bengal and Bihar”.
The Second Mysore War:
The Government of Madras at this time was incredibly corrupt. They stopped the tribute of the Northern Circars to the Nizam and marched their forces through Haider’s territories to take possession of Guntur in the Nizam’s territories which Haider had long coveted as a means of access to the sea.
Haider interrupted the manoeuvre as directed against him and he last his patience when the English took possession of the French factory at Mahe in 1779 in defiance of his contention that the factory was under his protection.
The move against Mahe, a small sea port on the Malabar Coast was designed to deprive Haider of access to the French as war between that nation the English was raging in Europe.
A grand alliance, between Haider, the Nizam and the Marathas was formed and as Hastings said there was ‘War either actual or impending in every quarter and with every power in Hindustani’.
In July 1780 Haider swooped down on the plains of the Carnatic carrying death and destruction. Panic seized the English. Sir Hector Munroe, the victor of Buxar, fled for safety to Madras, throwing his guns and stores into a tank.
Another force under Colonel Baillie was cut to pieces by Tipu at Canjeevaram. In October 1780 Haider took possession of Arcot and was the undisputed master of the Carnatic. Ruin started the company in the face; their fortunes were at the lowest ebb.
Hastings at Calcutta became desperate. Hastily furnishing an army he despatched it the south under Sir Eyre Coote. To weaker the alliance was an immediate necessity. By skilful diplomacy, by playing upon the conflicting interests of the allies.
Hastings detached the Raja of Berar and Sindhia from the Coalition. He pacified the Nizam by the return of Guntur, suspended the corrupt Madras Governor and took the initiative in his own hands.
Sir Eyre Coote joined forces with colonel Pearce fought an indecisive engagement with Haider at Polliher in August 1781 but in September Haider was defeated at Shollingar. Haider’s defeat, however, was set off by the surrender of colonel Braithwaite to Tipu near Tanjore.
Early in 1782 the French appeared on the scene with a fleet under admiral Suffren and 2000 armed men under Du Chemin waiting for the arrival of Bussy. By that time the Marathas, having been detached by the treaty of Salbai, Hastings concentrated his forces both from the side of Bombay and Madras on Mysore. On the sea De Suffren engaged the English in several indecisive actions.
On land they captured Cuddalore and Trincomale from the English. Coote’s attempt to capture Anni where Haider’s supplies were stored was repulsed in May 1782 and a similar fate attended colonel Humberstone’s attempt on the Malabar Coast at the hands of Tipu.
At such a time death took away Haider from the field of his glory. A fatal attack of cancer ended his life in December 1782. The Stars were now in favour of the English. Tipu continued the struggle. He defeated Brigadier Mathews sent from Bombay to capture Mangalore and Bendur.
At this critical time the French withdrew by the treaty of Versailles (1783) and the English again became the masters of the Indian seas. Several Annies now converged upon Mysore. Colone! Fullaton attacked the Southern provinces in November 1783 and was advancing towards Srirangam.
When peace was made in March 1784. The treaty of Mangalore provided for mutual restitution of conquests and release of prisoners. It was no better than a truce force upon both the powers by their inability to continue the struggle; but both were convinced that without the destruction of one there was no safety for the other.
Relations with the Marathas:
Peshwa Madho Rao died in 1772 and was succeeded by his brother Narayan Rao who was murdered after nine months by his uncle Raghunath Rao popularly known as Raghoba.
A contest for the Peshwaship between Raghunath Rao, the uncle of Narayan Rao and the latter’s posthumous son supported by certain Maratha leaders began Raghunth Rao approached the Bombay government for help and in March 1775 a treaty was concluded between the two at Surat by which the English were to help Raghunath Rao in return for Salsettle and Bassein. Raghunath Rao, supported by the English under colonel Keating, proceeded towards Poona and defeated his opponents in May, 1775 on the plains of Arras.
Hastings and his council disapproved of the treaty describing it as “impalitic, dangerous, unauthorised and unjust’. It was no doubt unauthorised. The Bombay Government had acted on its own initiative. It was dangerous as it embroiled the company with the Marathas at a time when its position could ill-afford the luxury of a expansionist foreign policy.
Accordingly Colonel Upton was despatched from Calcutta to negotiate with the Maratha Chiefs and a treaty was concluded at Purandhar in March, 1776 by which the English were to retain Salsettle, give up the cause of Raghunath Rao and a general peace between the English and the Marathas was established.
The home authorities, however, rejected the treaty of Purandhar and upheld that of Surat and directed that the alliance with Raghoba was to continue and the territories ceded by him should be retained.
Matters were further complicated by the entry of France in the American War of Independence and the arrival of their agent St. Lubin at the Court of Nanda Fadnavis at Poona in July 1778. The Bombay Government encouraged by the support from home renewed the struggle and sent an army under colonel Egerton towards Poona in November 1778.
He was replaced by colonel Cockburn in January 1779. The Marathas could not brook this interference in their internal affairs. They mustered strong roundly thrashed the English and compelled them to sign the humiliating convention of Wadgaon (Jan, 1799) by which the English promised to give up all territorial acquisitions, made since 1773 and to stop troops advancing from Bengal and to surrender Raghoba. But he fled to Sindhia and the terms were settled with him.
Hastings immediately repudiated the convention and prepared for war. Army lowering of the British reputation at that time was ruinous as the relations with Haider Ali were venging on War and
Nizam was in decisive. Hastings opened negotiations with the Bhonsla, Raja of Nagpur who had some pretensions to the headship of Maratha confederacy with a view to back him up against the Peshwas who was theoretically the Prime Minister of the Maharaja of Satra. He despatched two armies. One under captain Popham to attack Sindhia’s territories in Gwalior and the other under General Goddard towards Poona.
Goddard marched across central India, stormed Ahmedabad in February 1780 and overran Gujarat. He own over the Gaekwar of Baroda from which time the Gaekwar ever remained aloof from the Anglo-Maratha struggle. Goddard then dashed towards Poona where the genius of Nana Fadnavis ruled. By this time war in the South had started and a grand alliance between the Maratha, the Nizam and Haider confronted the English. The company’s fortunes were at the lowest ebb on every side.
The Nana, fully alive to the straightened condition of the English, refused the terms of the Goddard. By skilful diplomacy he encircled Goddard by his forces and though Goddard escaped the lors of men was immense.
The disaster of Goddard, however, was partially counter balanced by the success of captain Popham against Sindhia. Popham captured the fort of Gwalior and Sindhia was defeated by General Camac at spirit in February 1781.
This success un-nerved Sindhia who came to terms by a treaty in October. 1781. Promising to bring about a settlement between the Peshwas and the English. The result was treaty of Salbai (May 1782) which ended the first Maratha power.
The English gave up the cause of Raghoba who was pensioned off. Keeping Salsette and broach but giving up other gains, all the territories of Sindhia west of the Jammu were restored to him and friendship between the English and the Marathas was established.
The treaty brought the English nothing except peace with the Marathas, the most formidable Power in India and deprived Mysore of their support. This was its only importance for by the time war with the Maratha broke out again; the English had already destroyed the power of Mysore and brought the Nizam under their control, thus making the dreaded Marathas, Mysore and Nizam coalition impossibility.
The Marathas being left alone and divided among them were eventually leaten. To described the treats as establishing the dominance of the British as a controlling factor in Indian politics is drawing upon imagination rather than facts in History.
From the point of view of the Maratha the treaty was a great mistake brought about by the nervousness and selfishness of Scindia. Assured of freehand in the North. Scindia, deserted his allies-the Nizam and the ruler of Mysore.
If war had continued, history might have been written differently. The peace with Hastings established with the Marathas was a stroke of diplomacy that was valuable to him in his southern wars.
The credit Warren Hastings that from an Ordinary Written of the company, he rose to the position of the Governor-General of Bengal. According to J.S. Cotton “Indians and Anglo-Indians alike venerate Hastings’s name, the former as their first beneficent administrator, the latter the most able and the most enlightened of their own class.
If Clive’s sword acquired the Indian empire, it was brain of Hastings that planned the system of civil administration and his genius that saved the empire in its darkest hour. Hastings made no conquest, but his subsidiary system paved the way for the final overthrow or defeat of every power that sought to hinder the growth of our Eastern Empire.