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In 1600, The East India Company received a Charter from the ruler of England, Queen Elizabeth I, to establish their presence in the east. They were given sole right for the establishment and to trade across seas. The Portuguese established their presence on the western coast of India and had their base in Goa. Britishers came to India as a small trading company. They looked for cheap goods to sell in the European markets by adding their profits. In the early seventeenth century, French and Dutch also arrived, exploring opportunities for trading. There was quite a demand for fine Indian textiles like cotton, silk etc., and rich quality spices like cardamom, pepper, clove etc., which created risk for fewer profits to be earned. In January 1613, First English Factory was set up, followed by Trade Expansion.
Presidencies
About 63% of the Indian Territories were under the control of The East India Company. Under the administration of Warren Hastings, the British East India Company gained power not only in Bengal but also in Madras and Bombay. The three broadly divided British Territories were divided into administrative units known as Presidencies. Warren Hastings, the supreme Governor-General, appointed a Governor/Collector for each Indian Presidency who was responsible for maintaining discipline and order, and these three Presidencies were Madras, Bengal and Bombay. Soon the Collector’s office came to be known as “Collectorate”. This office became the centre of power as their job was to collect revenues and taxes with the help of judges and police officers.
System of Justice
In 1772, Warren Hastings introduced the new justice system for The East India Company’s new administration. According to this system, all districts were supposed to have a
- Criminal Court or Faujdari Adalat
- Civil Court or Diwani Adalat
A European District Collector was assisted by Hindu pandits/Maulvis in the civil court.
The criminal courts were assisted by a Qazi and a Mufti, presided over by collectors.
In 1773, a Regulating Act was passed under which a Supreme Court was established and a Court of appeal- the Sadar Nizamat Adalat was set up in Calcutta.
Compilation of laws
Under the rule of the British East India Company, Indians had many issues as the laws weren’t drafted in compliance with their dharmas. To ensure uniformity in law and order, in 1775, eleven pandits were appointed and asked to compile a digest of Hindu Laws. In 1778, a compiled digest of Muslim Laws was also created to help the governors.
The Company Army
Specific major characteristics arise when examining the East India Company’s takeover of Indian territories from 1757 to 1857.
A direct military strike on an unfamiliar country was uncommon for the Company. Before annexing an Indian nation, it utilised several political, economic, and diplomatic strategies to expand its power. The Company appointed Residents in Indian states after the Battle of Buxar. They were political or commercial representatives whose duty was to serve and promote the Company’s interests.
The term “subsidiary alliance” refers to Indian kings not having their armed forces. They were meant to be protected by the Company, but they had to pay for the “subsidiary troops” that the Company was obliged to keep.
Along with the administrative reforms, military culture also witnessed specific changes which were visible. It was greatly influenced by the Mughal Culture Army, which was categorised into Cavalry or the Sawers trained to fight on horseback on the battlefield. On the other hand, the Infantry or the Paidal soldiers (on foot) were trained to use swords and archery. Cavalry soldiers held a majority in the army as they were proved more efficient. Awadh and Benaras (also Varanasi now) were the Mughal States that started giving local peasants chances in the military and trained them as professional soldiers in the eighteenth century.
This method was adopted, and the army became known as the “Sepoy Army”. From the 1820s, they needed the Infantry or the Paidal soldiers to fight against Burma, Afghanistan and Egypt as the war was going on between Britishers and them. They were equipped with muskets and matchlocks.
In the early nineteenth century, they trained the Sepoy Army or the Company Army to create a “ Uniform Military Culture “ as they were subjected to maintaining discipline and European-style training and drill that proved more regulation than earlier. By the early 19th century, the Company had established itself as a colonial power.
Conclusion
After the death of Aurangzeb, the last prominent Mughal monarch, numerous Mughal governors (subadars) and large zamindars asserted their authority and established provincial kingdoms. By the second part of the eighteenth century, a new political force had emerged: the British.
The East India Company transformed from a trade business to a colonial territorial force.
