Expansion of British Rule ESTABLISHMENT OF BRITISH PARAMOUNTCY AND CIVIL ADMINISTRATION.
There was a continuous up and down battle between the British Parliament and the company since the formation of the United Company of Merchants of England Trading to the East Indies’, later said to be the East India Company. While Parliament did not want to give up the opportunity for exploit the Company’s profits by permitting it greater autonomy, the Company was curious to have a permanent set up.
In the global market the East India Company became the single biggest British player. The monopoly of opium trading in Bengal was pressured by the Company in 1773. By the time the administration of the British occupied Indian territories was totally in the hands of the company. The British Parliament felt that the Company’s interests in India were no longer only commercial, and that it had assumed the nature of a political and territorial power. To confine the increasing power of the Company and illegal works of its officials, the British Parliament made the first direct intervention in the affairs of India by promulgating the Regulating Act in 1773.
According to the Act, Warren Hastings, a longtime Company official, was made the first Governor General of British India. Major changes were introduced in the administrative structure of the Company, both in England and in India. The Company was in close supervision by the British government and to periodical inquires by the British Parliament. Now, the governors of the Company’s commercia settlements became the governors of Provinces. Although the East India Company continued to trade, several of its officials became Administrators in the new British regimes. Very big armies were the Company’s territories, to suppress neighbouring Indian states and to crush any possible internal opposition.
The moment Warren Hastings was made Governor General-in-charge of the Company’s possessions throughout India, he abolished the dual system, introduced by Robert Clive. But meanwhile, the Marathas surfaced as a terrific power in the north. Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan, the legendary rulers of Mysore, also gave a tough time to the British forces. Having taking side of the French during the war, the rulers of Mysore continued with their struggle against the Company with the four Anglo Mysore Wars.
ANNEXATION OF MYSORE The state of Mysore had maintained its freedom ever since the end of the Vijaynagar Empire. further, it accepted the rule of the Mughals. At the time of Nadir Shah’s attack, Mysore took the opportunity to assert its independence. During the 18th century, the king of Mysore, Chuke Krishnaraj, was a puppet in the hands of his two ministers.
During the latter part of his rule Hyder Ali, an iconic personality, rose to prominence from the ranks of an army captain. The Maraths the British and the Nizam of Hyderabad were jealous of Hyder Ali’s growing power. The British made an alliance with the Marathas and the Nizam of Hyderabad to crush the power of Hyder Ali. What followed was a series of wars fought between Mysore and the Company, over a span of thirty two years.
INDIA BETWEEN 1772-1785 During 1772-1785 the territory of the East India Company included Bengal, Bihar, Orissa and Banaras. It also included the Northern Circar the port of Salary te and the harbours of Madras, Bombay and other minor port. The Mughal territory included Delhi and other surrounding areas. The autonomous territory of Awadh was bound in an offensive defensive alliance with the East India Company since 1765. The north western part of India was under the Sikh clans, who controlled the region around the Satluj. North-western Punjab, Multan, Sindh and Kashmir were under the rule of Muslim chiefs. The Marathas dominated western India, parts of central India from Delhi to Hyderabad, and the land from Gujarat to Cuttack. The Nizam of Hyderabad ruled the Deccan. Hyder Ali ruled over Mysore. Tanjore and Travancore were also under Hindu rulers.
