Queen Victoria’s Proclamation (1858)

The Revolt of 1857 conformed as a jolt or a push to the British government to establish their supremacy in India. With the widespread resentment against the various British policies, people started violently blaming the British for such unfavourable policies that weren’t of any use to the Indian people. Seeking to maintain an environment of Peace in the country, the Britishers decided to transfer the permanent hold of the East India Company over the country to the British Crown. Soon, Queen Victoria came to Delhi and it was decided to proclaim her as the Queen of India and from then onwards all the chiefs, princes and the people of India would be working under her authority. The Act of proclaiming Queen Victoria as the Queen of India is popularly known as the Government of India Act, 1858. 

Queen Victoria’s Proclamation (1858)

The aftermath of the Revolt of 1857 emerged in the transfer of the continual hold of the East India Company over the country to the British Crown. As a result, the Government of India Act, 1858 was passed, which made noticeable changes in the Indian administration. Soon, it was decided to proclaim Queen Victoria as the Queen of India and from then onwards all the chiefs, princes and the people of India would be working under her authority.

With the Queen’s proclamation, it was decided to grant the same status to the Native of India as the other subjects. Further, the declaration objectified various societal issues like racial discrimination that prevailed in the country and focused on removing all these evil of underdevelopment. Apart from this, it was also assured that the British Crown would create equality and all the people would be equal in the eyes of the law. With the extension of British rights to the Indians as well, the act was widely accepted and even regarded as the Magna Carta of India by Gandhi Ji. 

Delhi Durbar and the Queen’s Proclamation

It was in 1877 that Queen Victoria claimed the title of Qaisar-i-Hind in the Delhi Coronation Park. The declaration was the event of prominent talks which ensued in a massive assemblage popularly known as the Delhi Durbar. The transfer of powers was the result of the mutiny of 1857, which is also recognized as India’s First War of Independence. 

During the Mughal era, the Darbar was referred to as the place where a massive audience convened in front of the royalty. Generally, it was realised as the ceremony that brought the coloniser and the colonised together in one place. At Queen Victoria’s proclamation, the Delhi Durbar was the place where all the people stood under the auspices and clenches of British sovereignty. 

The view at the Delhi Durbar was the first time that many such prominent maharajas, nawabs and other dignitaries had gathered to pay homage to Queen Victoria for her undertaking of the Indian authority. In the commemoration of the proclamation, each of the rulers of India was delivered a gold memorial banner and a medal as a personal gift from the Queen herself. However, these gifts were considered as a present to show that the Indians were subjugated by the British Crown and were under their control for a long time.

Importance of Queen’s Proclamation

1)The Queen’s proclamation assured that no interference would be made by the administration in the matters of religious affairs. 

2) Even if the British Crown had a hold over the Indian administration, due respects were reimbursed to the customs, usages and ancient rites of the people of India. 

3) It was decided to grant the same status to the Natives of India as the other subjects, the British people. 

4) The declaration objectified various societal issues like racial discrimination that prevailed in the country and focused on removing all these evil of underdevelopment.

5) The proclamation also defined the prosperity of the Indians as the strength of the Britishers and the contentment of the Indians as the security for the Monarch’s power in India. 

Government of India Act, 1858

The Government of India Act, 1858 was passed in a parallel setting with the Queen’s proclamation in India. Under this, it was claimed that India would now be governed directly by the Britishers under their British Crown and all the authorities lay in their hands. The Government of India Act of 1858 had certain provisions. Some of them are: 

1)Under this Act, the rule of the East India Company was liquidated and passed on to the British Crown.

2) The surveillance including the Board of Control and the Court of Directors were discarded by this Act. 

3) The Secretary of State would act as the British MP, who would work under an advisory committee of 15 members. 

4) The Secretary of State would also act as the arbitrator and the channel between the British administration in Britain and the Indian government. 

5) The dual government policy, introduced by Pitt’s India Act was removed by the Government of India Act, 1858. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, to conserve a setting of peace and prosperity in the nation, the Britishers decided to substitute the continual hold of the East India Company to the British Crown. The proclamation had noticeable impacts on the East India Company and the treaties with the princes. The declaration was guided by the guiding principles of religion and justice and that there won’t be any interference in Indian society, amidst these sensitive topics. Further, the declaration objectified various societal issues like racial discrimination that prevailed in the country and focused on removing all these evil of underdevelopment.