Governor General and Viceroy

When the British started having complete control over the Indian subcontinent, they appointed various English Officials whose basic task was to deal with the administration and have an envious working mechanism of the colony. The governor-general and the viceroy are to name a few of such British officials that held an ample amount of power in the colony. The governor-general is a role that was appointed by the British government whose primary work included representing the crown and governing that specific region of our country. Governor-general holds a special position in the colony as they are considered to be the direct representatives of the actual British government. Although a huge amount of power was vested upon the governors-general it is needless to say that such powers could also be appointed by them by the government. The governor-general also held the position of being the commander in chief for the British army. The viceroy was a person who would politically serve and represent the crown. The title of viceroy was invested in someone who would politically take care of the colony and ensure that the British Empire was expanded in the right and proper way. Although both the positions seem alike it is needless to say that there were ample amounts of differences between both. 

Functionality

When it comes to the functions of the governor-general, it can be compared to that of a monarch. As the governor-general was considered to be the direct representative of the crown therefore the main purpose of the governor-general was to take care of the administrative position and powers of the East India Company in India. The governor-general mostly dealt with high officials of the army as well as other sectors of the company including the directors, and administers them from time to time. The British government allotted a governor-general of the entire country and a specific governor-general that would work mostly on the capital and take care of the administrative tasks. Important places like Bombay, Madras, and Bengal had their governor generals who would often take up the task of administering such places that held special importance in the eyes of the British government. Robert Clive was the first governor-general of Bengal. Before passing the Regulating Act of 1773 the governor-general of Bengal was also known as the Governor of Bengal; it was after the passing of such an act that the name was changed to the governor-general of Bengal. The position was first awarded to Warren Hastings at that time. 

The viceroy on the other hand was a British official that was diplomatically involved in the East India Company and exercised powers that were politically accurate and helped the East India Company to expand in growing in India. The viceroys would directly report back to the crown regarding the conditions of the company as well as the country politically, and receive advice and direct orders from them. Unlike the governor-general, the viceroy of the country remained only one person who held office and dealt with diplomatic and political work of the entire country as a whole and reported directly back to the government or the crown. The work of the viceroy was considered to be an important task as it directly dealt with those politically involved within the country and company.  

The firsts 

The first governor-general of India was William Bentinck was appointed in the year 1833 by the charter act of 1833. The position was created to maintain a figure similar to the ground in the country to administer the entire process of the workforce of the company. The first governor-general of India was William Bentinck who was appointed in the year 1833. The position of the governor-general in India lasted up to 1858 after which it was non-existent. Although the position remained and various eminent personals held the office of the governor-general yet the significance of the role had declined rapidly. The last governor-general of India was Chakravarti Rajagopalachari who held office up to 1950 after which India was a republic state. 

The position of the viceroy was introduced in the year 1858 bypassing the Government of India Act right after the Revolt of 1857. The great revolt instigated the British government to introduce a specific post apart from the governor-general that would specifically look after the political conditions and whereabouts of the country as well as the company. It was after the incident of the great revolt that the British government introduced the position of the viceroy. The first viceroy of India was Lord Canning who was awarded the position in the year 1858. The last viceroy of India was Lord Mountbatten who after the independence of India had to be removed from office in 1948.

Conclusion

It is needless to say that both the positions held by the governor-general of India and viceroy of India were influential and played a huge role in the history of Britain’s colonization in India and setting up the East India company.