This Week in History

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CWA # 1455, 23 August 2024
This Week in History
13 August 1784: The UK Parliament passes the Pitts India Act, bringing India under the direct control of the British rule

  Ramya B

On 13 August 1784, the East India Company Act, named after William Pitt the Younger, Britain's Prime Minister, was passed, to remove the shortcomings of the Regulating Act of 1773 and take control of the East India Company and Indian administration.

The Pitt's India Act of 1784 was a significant enactment by the British Parliament aimed at exerting more authority over the operations of the British East India Company in India and placing India's governance directly under the British government's oversight.

The official title of the Pitt’s India Act was “An Act for the better Regulation and Management of the Affairs of the East India Company and of the British Possessions in India, and for establishing a Court of Judicature for the more speedy and effectual trial of persons accused of offences committed in the East Indies.”

Events leading to the Act
During the mid-18th century, the British East India Company had established itself as a prevailing power in India, exerting control over large territory and amassing substantial wealth. There were several complaints of maladministration and corruption against Warren Hastings, the first Governor-General of Bengal (1777–1785). The increasing influence of an economic entity as an autonomous authority with quasi-sovereign powers raised geopolitical and strategic concerns. The company's fear of mishandling Indian affairs and undermining its position in India may make it susceptible to threats from competing nations.

Despite its wealth, the East India Company had financial instability, mostly due to war expenses, and the administration sought financial assistance from the British government. The British government possessed a strategic and enduring goal to extend and safeguard its empire in Asia. The British attempted to establish control with the Regulating Act of 1773, but it proved insufficient. The British government sought to exert dominance to stabilise and enhance its authority in India, paving the way for the foundation of the British Raj.

About the Act and Responses
The Act established a dual control system, enabling two distinct entities to govern the company's territory in India. The British government and the East India Company divided the responsibility equally. The East India Company retained authority over its commercial operations and personnel selection in India, but the Board of Control possessed ultimate decision-making power in all aspects of government. For the first time in India, the territory of the company was referred to as the "British possession of India." Calcutta effectively became the capital of British India. Madras and Bombay presidencies came to be subordinate to the Bengal Presidency. The British Government took complete authority over the Company's administration in India.

The Pitt's India Act of 1784 exerted a significant impact on the British governance of India. However, Indian ruling families such as the Marathas, Mysore, and the Nizam of Hyderabad did not face the immediate consequences of the Act, nor were there any notable responses. The implementation of Pitt's India Act resulted in improved British rule and caused regional powers to feel the mounting pressure of British expansionism. Over time, the growing effectiveness and power of the British administration became a more significant challenge to their independence. The majority of the Indian population, including the elites, had limited awareness of the Pitt's India Act and its consequences.

The Pitt's India Act, through its formalisation of British control, indirectly facilitated the growth of Indian political awareness, leading to the emergence of intellectuals and nationalists. Nevertheless, in 1784, the nationalist movement was still in its early stages, and there was no coordinated response to the Act.

The legacy of the Pitts India Act
The Act established dual administration between the British government and the East India Company. This separation of powers between political and commercial activities provides an understanding of the importance of clear governance structures. The company established a Board of Control to oversee its affairs in India, ensuring accountability and transparency in governance. The Act centralised administrative power by making the Governor-General of Bengal the supreme authority over other presidencies (Madras and Bombay). The act mandated that all civil and military officers must disclose their property details to ensure integrity and reduce corruption in public offices.

On the other hand, the Act created a dual system of control between the British government and the East India Company, leading to confusion and inefficiency. The Act aimed to improve oversight but failed to establish a robust mechanism to monitor and control the company’s activities. The Act did not consider the interests and welfare of the local Indian population, and it failed to address the growing financial crisis and mismanagement within the company, as well as the costs of war in India. Pitt's India Act set a precedent for future legislative reforms, including the Government of India Act 1858, which eventually led to the establishment of British Crown rule in India. The British government's direct involvement in Indian affairs led to a gradual realization among Indians of the true nature of British imperialism.

About the author
Ramya B, Department of History, Kristu Jayanti College, Bengaluru.


 

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