Eternal India Encyclopedia

Eternal India encyclopedia

FREEDOM MOVEMENT

NEW PHASE OF BRITISH RULE IN INDIA

Proclamation by the Queen in Council, TO THE PRINCES, CHIEFS, AND PEOPLE OF INDIA. Victoria,

B Y THE G RACE OF G OD , OF THE U NITED K INGDOM OF G REAT B RITIAN AND I RELAND , AND OF THE COLONIES AND D EPENDENCIES THEREOF IN E UROPE , A SIA , A FRICA , A MERICA AND A USTRALASIA , Queen, Defender of the faith

Whereas for divers weighty reasons, We have resolved, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in Parliament assembled to take upon Ourselves the Government of the Territories in INDIA heretofore administered in trust for Us by the H ONORABLE E AST I NDIA C OMPANY : Now, therefore We do by these Presents notify and declare that, by the advice and consent aforesaid, We have taken upon Ourselves the said Government; and We hereby call upon all our subjects within the said Territories to be faithful, and to bear the true all Allegiance to Us, Our Heirs and Successors and to submit themselves to the authority of those whom We may hereafter, from time to iime, see fit to appoint to administer the Government of Our said Territories.

Queen Victoria

1858 British Parliament by an Act ended the rule of the East India Company on 2 August 1858 and transferred power to the British crown. The authority of the British Government was now exercised by the Governor-General of India who became Viceroy. Princely states were assured of their continued existence and became faithful allies of the British. 1859-62 : Indigo revolt in lower Bengal - Armed revolts, continued to take place even after the 1857 uprising. Peasants, tribal people, certain religious sects and sections of old ruling families were up in aims. The first of these, the indigo revolts in Lower Bengal (1859-62), were against the British planters who forced peasants to cultivate indigo and sell it to them at prices fixed by the planters. 1863-64 : Wahabi revolt was crushed by British. In Punjab, the Namdhari or the Kuka movement under Guru Ram Singh clashed with British authorities. Guru Ram Singh was exiled to Burma. Queen's proclamation -

rule, but was defeated in 1869 and was imprisoned for life. 1865-1868 : Indigo revolt in North Bihar.

POLICY OUTLINE I. Urged the local authorities to “abstain from interference with the religious belief or wor- ship of any of Our subjects on pain of Our higher displeasure.” Assurance to Indian princes that “all treaties and engage- ments made with them would be scrupulously honoured.” Promised that Indians would be given the opportunity of serving the administration at whatever level their “education, ability and integrity” fitted them. Earnest desire to stimulate the peaceful industry of India. II. III. IV.

1872-80 : These were followed by peasant

uprisings Bengal, Maharashtra (1874-75, 1878-79) and Rampa in Andhra Pradesh (1879-80), against the oppression of landlords, moneylenders and the British authorities. The peasants and tribals in north-eastern India took up arms against the British oppression. 1875 : Swami Dayanand, saint and social reformer, propagated the greatness of the Vedas. Founded the ‘Arya Samaj’ at Bombay. He opposed child marriage, untouchability, caste system, polytheism, idol worship, and encouraged widow re- marriage. He did not support Western education. 1877 : Queen Victoria was proclaimed 1883 : Sir C.P. Ilbert moved the criminal jurisdiction bill aimed at bringing European British subjects in India within the jurisdiction of Indian judges. in Pabna and Bogra in Empress of India.

In Maharastra, Vasudeo Balwant Phadke led

an armed revolt against money lenders and foreign

Areas of Indigo Revolt 1859-62

“It was the indigo disturbances which first taught the natives the value of combination of political agitation. Indeed it was the first revolution in Bengal after the advent of the English. If there be a second revolution it will be to free the nation from the death grips of the all-powerful police and district Magistrate. Nothing like oppression! It was the oppression which brought about the glori- ous revolution in England and it was the oppres- sion of half a century by indigo planters which at last roused the half-dead Bengalee and infused spark in his cold frame. ” - Amrita Bazar Patrika, 22 May 1874

1 . Malda

2

Rajshahi

3. Pabna

4. Dacca

5. Jessore

6. Khulna

7. 24 Parganas

8. Nadia