Establishing Colonial Administration and Justice

Company Officials Become “Nabobs”

With the acquisition of political power and revenue resources, particularly after the Battle of Plassey, the officials of the English East India Company in India began to accumulate vast personal wealth and live lavish lifestyles. This led to them being referred to as "Nabobs".

Meaning of "Nabob":

• The term "Nabob" is an anglicised version of the Mughal title "Nawab", which was used for powerful governors or rulers.
• It came to be used to describe the Company officials who returned to Britain with immense wealth acquired from India.

Sources of Wealth:

• Company officials often engaged in private trade in India, alongside the Company's official trade.
• They accepted 'gifts' and bribes from Indian rulers and powerful individuals seeking favours or protection from the Company.
• They exploited the revenue resources of territories like Bengal after the Company gained control.
• The vast profits from trade and exploitation led to many Company officials becoming extremely rich.

Impact of "Nabobs":

• The wealth and lavish lifestyles of the returning Nabobs in Britain caused controversy and criticism. They were often seen as arrogant and corrupt, displaying their newly acquired riches ostentatiously.
• The allegations of corruption and misrule by Company officials in India led to increasing scrutiny in Britain and ultimately to the British government taking more direct control over the Company's affairs (through Acts like the Regulating Act of 1773 and the Pitt's India Act of 1784).
• The term "Nabob" came to symbolise the corrupt and exploitative nature of early Company rule in India.

The transformation of Company officials into wealthy "Nabobs" was a direct consequence of the Company's transition from a pure trading body to a political and territorial power, highlighting the immense economic benefits derived from early colonial exploitation.

Setting Up A New Administration

As the English East India Company consolidated its territorial gains in India, it needed to establish a system of administration to govern the acquired territories, collect revenue, and maintain law and order. This involved setting up new structures and officials, often based on or adapted from existing systems but with modifications to serve colonial interests.

Administrative Divisions:

• The Company divided its territories into administrative units called Presidencies. The three major Presidencies were Bengal, Madras, and Bombay.
• Each Presidency was headed by a Governor.
• The Governor-General in Bengal became the head of the Company's administration in India (e.g., Warren Hastings was the first Governor-General of Bengal, Lord Cornwallis, Lord Wellesley, Lord Dalhousie).

Judicial Administration:

• Warren Hastings (Governor-General 1773-1785) introduced some reforms in judicial administration.
• Each district was to have two courts: a criminal court (Faujdari Adalat) and a civil court (Diwani Adalat).
• Indian Qazis and Muftis assisted the European District Collector in the civil courts. The criminal courts were initially under a Qazi and Mufti but under the supervision of the Collector.
• A Supreme Court was established at Calcutta.
• Later, Cornwallis further reformed the judicial system, establishing a hierarchy of courts and introducing regulations. He also implemented the Permanent Settlement, a land revenue system.

The Role of the Collector:

• The District Collector was a key figure in the Company's administration at the district level.
• Initially, their main function was to collect revenue.
• Over time, their role expanded to include maintaining law and order, acting as judges, and overseeing the police.
• The Collectorate became a powerful institution, symbolising the Company's authority in the districts.

Challenges in Judicial Administration:

• Translating existing Indian laws (e.g., Hindu and Muslim personal laws) and customs posed challenges. Different schools of law existed, and interpretations varied.
• Compilations of Hindu and Muslim laws were attempted (e.g., the Code of Gentoo Laws based on Hindu personal laws).

The establishment of a new administrative and judicial system was a complex process of adaptation and imposition, aimed at consolidating the Company's control, collecting revenue efficiently, and maintaining order in the newly acquired territories.

The Company Army

Military superiority was essential for the English East India Company's rise to power and its ability to conquer and control Indian territories. The Company developed its own army, drawing upon Indian recruits and European military technology and training.

Evolution of the Company Army:

• Initially, the Company relied on small forces to guard its factories and engage in skirmishes with rivals or local rulers.
• As its political ambitions grew, the Company began raising larger armies.
• The core of the Company army became the sepoy army, consisting of Indian soldiers (sepoys) trained and commanded by European officers.

Composition and Training:

• Recruitment initially focused on peasants from various regions.
• The training and discipline were based on European military standards, which differed from the traditional Indian military systems.
• Soldiers were trained in drilling, firing muskets, and other European military tactics.
• The use of muskets and artillery became increasingly important.

Advantages of the Company Army:

• Discipline and training: The Company army, with its disciplined and modern training, often proved more effective than the less unified armies of Indian rulers (which often consisted of feudal levies).
• Superior military technology: The use of effective artillery and muskets gave them an edge in many battles.
• Financial resources: The Company's wealth from trade and revenue allowed it to maintain a large standing army and pay soldiers regularly.

Challenges:

• Maintaining discipline and loyalty among sepoys was a challenge. Changes in military regulations or social customs could lead to discontent (as seen in the Revolt of 1857).
• The sepoy army became increasingly dominant numerically over the European troops in the Company's service.

The development of the Company army, primarily composed of Indian sepoys but trained and led in European style, was instrumental in the Company's conquest of India. This army became a symbol of colonial power and was used to defeat Indian kingdoms and maintain control over the vast acquired territories.