UNIT 6: LORD WELLESLEY AND HIS REFORMS
Unit Structure
6.1 Learning Objectives 6.2 Introduction 6.3 Subsidiary Alliance 6.3.1 Merits 6.3.2 Demerits 6.4 Wellesley and the French Menace 6.5 Estimate of Lord Wellesley 6.6 Let Us Sum Up 6.7 Further Reading 6.8 Answers to Check Your Progress 6.9 Model Questions
6.2 LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
After going through this unit you will be able to- Understand the Subsidiary Alliance, Analyse the merits and demerits of Subsidiary Alliance, Analyse Wellesley’s policies towards French in India, Estimate Lord Wellesley.
6.3 INTRODUCTION
Lord Wellesley, better known as Marquess Wellesley appointed as Governor General of India in 1798. He had a clear vision of the Mission before him. He wanted to make the Company the supreme power in India, to add to its territories and to reduce all the Indian states to a position of dependence on the Company. Wellesley gave up the policy of peace and non-intervention and inaugurated the policy of war and further wars. In this unit we shall discuss his policies in detail.
7 0 History (Block 1) Lord Wellesley and His Reforms Unit 6 6.3 SUBSIDIARY ALLIANCE Wellesley by nature was an expansionist governor general. To achieve this aim he adopted the policy of conquest and annexation of Indian States. He adopted a new policy of expansion known as Subsidiary Alliance to expand the British territory. According to this new expansionist policy, any native state which wanted British protection to secure their territory from their enemies or restoration of internal peace and order could make an alliance with the British. For that purpose, the British maintained their army in that state at the cost of the native state. The native state could pay these expanses either in cash or in terms of some territory of the kingdom. The state entering into this alliance lost its independence and gradually came under the political control of the British as it was backed by military assistance.
Main features of Subsidiary Alliance Any native ruler who entered into a subsidiary alliance with the Company (East India Company) recognised it as a paramount power. A British resident was posted at the court of the allying state, to watch over the activities of the ruler who entered into a subsidiary alliance. It was through him the relationship between the Company and native state was maintained. The allying state could not recognise any other foreign power without the permission of the Governor General. The Company undertook to defend the native ruler from both external as well as internal enemies. The native ruler had to pay the expanses of the British army stationed in his state in terms of cash or territory. Nizam of Hyderabad was the first Indian ruler to accept the Subsidiary alliance in 1798 and came under British protection. Later Mysore, Oudh and the Maratha states came under the umbrella of British protection by this alliance. Wellesley had to wage war against the Maratha chiefs to force them to make subsidiary alliances with the British.
History (Block 1) 7 1 Unit 6 Lord Wellesley and His Reforms 6.3.1 MERITS OF THE SUBSIDIARY ALLIANCE Subsidiary Alliance was extremely advantageous to the British. A large number of Indian states entered into this alliance and thus Company became paramount power in a large part of India. The British could maintain a huge army by this alliance without bearing any expenditure. British controlled the administration of their allies through their residents. As the states allying with the British were not allowed to maintain any relation with any other foreign power, the influence of any foreign power came to an end. Another great advantage of this system to the British was that in case the state could not pay the expanses of the army stationed in its state, the British could annex some territories to their empire.
6.3.2 DEMERITS OF THE SUBSIDIARY ALLIANCE
From the above discussion it is become clear that the Subsidiary alliance was great advantageous to the British but it was very harmful to the native state that entered into the alliance. The demerits of this alliance were- The Subsidiary alliance weakened the power of the native rulers. By signing the subsidiary alliance, the native rulers practically lost their independence. The native rulers became dependent upon the British army for the protection of their territory. As a result they disbanded their own armies. Lakhs of soldiers and officers were deprived of their livelihood. These unemployed soldiers resorted to dacoities, loots and plunder. The payment of the subsidiary expenses to the British invariably ruined the economy of the allying state.
7 2 History (Block 1) Lord Wellesley and His Reforms Unit 6 CHECK YOUR PROGRESS Answer the following questions: Q. no.1: In which year Lord Wellesley was appointed as the Governor General of India? ...... Q. no.2: Who introduced the Subsidiary Alliance in India? ...... Q. no.3: Who was the first Indian ruler to accept the Subsidiary Alliance in India? ...... Q. no.4: Mention any one provisions of the Subsidiary Alliance......
6.4 Wellesley and the French Menace
Wellesley sailed for India in 1797, the darkest year in English history. The First Coalition of European powers against France had been shattered. Napoleon Bonaparte had conquered Egypt and Syria and was seriously meditating an invasion of India. During this period England was engaged in a life and death struggle against French and had good experience of the might of Napoleon on land. England was fighting for her existence. England very well realised the implications of a defeat at the hands of Napoleon. It would mean the ruin of her commerce which brought her wealth and financed the political set up in the country which in turn secured the enjoyment of that wealth. Wellesley was not to take any risks. He had rightly understood Napoleon’s maxim: ‘Impossible is a word to be found in the dictionary of fools,’ Tipu Sultan of Mysore, ‘the ancient native enemy of the Company’, was in correspondence with French authorities and planned to turn out the English from India. The same day Wellesley landed in Calcutta, the envoys of Tipu reached back Mangalore on their return from Mauritius bringing with them a frigate and some French soldiers and further promises of help. In Napoleon’s plans on India, Tipu saw the right opportunity for taking revenge
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on the English. He had planted the ‘flag of Liberty’ at Seringapatam, styled himself ‘Citizen Tipu’ and entered into an offensive and defensive alliance with the French. Tipu was making elaborate preparation for an alliance with the French. Tipu was making elaborate preparations for a war with the Company. The Nizam of Hyderabad being deserted by the English after his defeat at Kharda (1795) at the hands of the Marathas, had employed the French Commandant Monsieur Raymond and had organised a corps of 14,000 men with his help. The Maratha chieftain Mahadaji Sindhia very well understood the enmity between the English and the French and had employed Count de Boigne and later on Monsieur Perron to train a Maratha army which then stood at 8,000 infantry and 8,000 cavalry. The Sindhia had granted the revenues of the Ganga-Jamuna Doab for the upkeep of the French officers and their soldiers. Since the Sindhia could not maintain full and effective control over his mercenary captains or their regular troops, these French officers could serve as an instrument of Napoleon. Holding Delhi and Agra as they did, they could launch an offensive against Bihar and Bengal. Wellesley referred to Monsieur Perron’s ‘independent state’ and could not tolerate a French colony in the heart of Hindustan. Wellesley also viewed with considerable concern the employment of European and French officers by Ranjit Singh of the Panjab. A contributory factor was the contemplated invasion of Zaman Shah from the north-west. Wellesley set out in right earnest to combat French danger to Britain’s position in the East. With his usual enthusiasm Wellesley mobilised the English community in Bengal and urged them to contribute liberally towards the war funds and remitted it to England as war contribution. Besides, many Europeans offered themselves for service in any campaign against Napoleon. Wellesley came to the conclusion that the best way to safeguard India against the hostile designs of Napoleon was to make the Company the arbiter of the Indian political world and place the Indian states beyond the influence of the French. He forced Indian princes to accept subsidiary alliances. An Indian State which accepted the subsidiary alliance had to
7 4 History (Block 1) Lord Wellesley and His Reforms Unit 6 accept disarmament, expel Frenchmen and other Europeans from his service, surrender her external relations and accept the superior position of the East India Company. Besides, the subsidiary alliance system enabled the Company to maintain a large standing army at the expense of Indian states. In 1798, Wellesley offered the Nizam the choice of immediate fighting or acceptance of the subsidiary alliance. The weak and vacillating Nizam reluctantly accepted the subsidiary alliance in September 1798. Accordingly he had to dismiss his French-trained troops. The French officers of the Nizam’s army were sent as prisoners to Calcutta and then deported to Europe. A subsidiary force of six battalions commanded by British officers was stationed at Hyderabad at the expense of the Nizam. Wellesley succeeded in rooting out French influence from Hyderabad. Next Wellesley turned his attention towards Tipu Sultan of Mysore, who had solicited French support in his plans to throw out the English from India. Wellesley calculated that a French invasion via the Red Sea could only be possible after the middle of 1799 and he decided to deal with Tipu before that time. On the refusal of Tipu to accept the subsidiary alliance war began in February 1799 and was over by May of the same year. Tipu was killed in fighting. The territories of Mysore state were reduced in size and handed over to a prince of the old Hindu dynasty who accepted the subsidiary alliance. A very dangerous fide in the south was removed and, above all, the Company got command over the sea coast of the Lower Peninsula. Wellesley next turned his attention towards the North planning to secure for the Company the position of arbiter of Northern India also. The state of Oudh had greatly degenerated and Oudh could no longer serve as a buffer against a possible French invasion. In 1801, Wellesley forced the Nawab into the acceptance of a large subsidiary force and surrender to the Company for its upkeep Rohilkhand, the northern districts of the Doab. Next, Wellesley turned his attention towards the Marathas, the only power of importance left in India which was independent of British protection. The French officers in the army of the Sindhia could serve as instruments of Napoleon. Besides, Maratha possessions along the western coast left them open to French influence and possibility of French infiltration from that corner
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could not be ruled out. The defeat and death of Tipu had been likened “to the loss of his right arm” by the Peshwa. Wellesley’s offer of subsidiary alliance was turned down. However, internal dissensions in the Maratha camp drove Peshwa Baji Rao II into the trap of the Company in December 1802 when the Peshwa signed a subsidiary treaty. A British subsidiary force was stationed at Poona. The Sindhia and the Bhonsle Raja felt humiliated and made war with the English but were defeated. Both the Bhonsle Raja and the Sindhia accepted subsidiary alliances and surrendered important territories to the Company. Wellesley sought to encircle Indian powers by acquiring the maritime provinces of Gujarat, Malabar and Cuttack, and thus preventing any French military help reaching the Indian princes. Wellesley put the surrender of the Malabar coast as one of the main pre-conditions for friendly relations with Tipu. Similarly, during the war with the Marathas, the English quickly occupied the harbour of Broach and the forts of Champaner and Pawangarh. Wellesley was very well alive to the importance of Gujarat when he wrote of “the facility which the possession of the sea-port of Broach afforded to Sindhia, of improving his military establishment, by the accession of French or other European officers, of military supplies and stores etc. and even a body of French or other European troops”. Similarly by the acquisition of Cuttack, very much coveted by Wellesley, the English besides linking their territories of Bengal and Madras would effectively cut off any communication between the Raja of Nagpur and the French. In 1799, Wellesley sent a British envoy, Mehdi Ali Khan, to the court of the Shah of Persia to counter French intrigues in that country. Later he sent John Malcolm with lavish presents to the Shah’s court. Malcolm reached Tehran in November 1800 and concluded a treaty with the Shah whereby the latter agreed not to allow the French to settle in his dominions and to expel and extirpate them if anywhere they had formed a settlement. Wellesley proposed the despatch of an expedition against the French naval base at Mauritius, but the British Admiral Rainier, who was in command of the British squadron, refused to co-operate on the ground that he could not act without express orders from the Crown. Even the
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Court of Directors did not favour the proposal. Wellesley also urged the Home Authorities to sanction an attack upon the Dutch possessions of Batavia and the Cape Colony (the Dutch at that time were the allies of France). In 1800, Wellesley sent an expedition of Indian troops under General David Baird to Egypt to fight against Napoleon. From the Red Sea the army marched across the desert and reached Rosetta on the shores of the Mediterranean. On his arrival General Baird found that the French force had already surrendered and the French danger had been averted for the time being. The Indian force returned back to India in 1802. By the Treaty of Amiens (1802) between Napoleon and England, England restored Pondicherry to the French. Bonaparte used this opportunity to send military officers to this settlement to negotiate with Emperor Shah Alam II through the French officers in the service of the Sindhia. At one time Napoleon seriously meditated sending a French force to India to save the Emperor from his enemies. Lord Wellesley saw in French designs a possibility of further mischief. In 1803, Lord Lake captured Delhi and Agra and took the Emperor under the company’s protection and gave him a liberal pension. Thus by his energetic and well-planned policy Wellesley succeeded not only in safeguarding India against possible French designs but in considerably adding to British dominions in India. At a time when empires in Europe were crumbling like houses of cards before the might of Napoleon, in the East Wellesley kept the British flag high.
6.5 ESTIMATE OF WELLESLEY
Wellesley took a step forward to convert the British Empire in India to British Empire of India. From one of the political powers in India, the company became the supreme power in India. From Wellesley’s time onwards the defence of India was company’s responsibility. There was a considerable expansion of British dominion in India. In 1798 there was no land route linking the three Presidencies (Bombay,
History (Block 1) 7 7 Unit 6 Lord Wellesley and His Reforms Calcutta and Madras). In 1805 there was a direct land route between Calcutta and Madras and, Madras and Bombay. The Imperial cities of Delhi and Agra together with the contiguous tracts on both sides of the Jamuna passed under British administration; Rohilkhand was ceded by the Nawab of Oudh: important tracts of Bundelkhand, Cuttack, valuable tracks in Gujarat, strategic territories along the western coast were added to Company’s territories. The addition of these territories along with the acquisition of Surat, Tanjore, Carnatic and cession of territories by the Nizam gave a new shape to the three Presidencies. British superiority in India was amply demonstrated, the unquestioned proclamation of British Paramountcy was a question of time and the next logical step. While opinions will continue to differ on whether the ‘French intrigues’ were a real danger to British position in India or were merely made a convenient excuse by Wellesley for pursuing schemes of aggression, whether, Maratha-French combinations were the causes or effects of Wellesley’s aggressive policy, one thing is certain that Wellesley’s methods were far more high-handed and dictatorial than those for which Warren Hastings had been impeached by the British Parliament a dozen years earlier. During that interval the temper of the English nation had greatly changed. Embittered by the strenuous struggle against Revolutionary and Napoleonic France the British Liberal tradition of Burke and Fox had receded to the background and the Parliament cordoned all methods, however objectionable, only if those buttressed British prestige in India.
CHECK YOUR PROGRESS Answer the following questions: Q. no.5: Between whom the Treaty of Amiens was signed? ...... Q. no.6: Whom did England consider their most important enemy during the time of Wellesley? ...... Q. no.7: Who was responsible for the defence of India during the period of Wellesley? ......
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6.6 Let Us Sum Up
After going through this unit, you have learnt- The expansionist policy of Wellesley, i.e. Subsidiary Alliance. By this policy Wellesley was able to annex several Indian provinces. The policy was of great advantage for the Company against other European powers as well. Simultaneously, the policy ruined the Indian states and made them simply puppets in the hands of the Company. Wellesley adopted a series of strong strategies against France in India. Above all, though Wellesley’s policies were mostly dictatorial and aggressive, but in long run his policies were fruitful in strengthening the Company’s hold in India.
6.7 FURTHER READING
1. Bipan Chandra: History of Modern India 2. Hermann Kukle; Dietmar Rothermund: A History of India 3. Philip Lawson: The East India Company: A History 4. Douglas M. Peer: India under colonial rule: 1700-1885 5. Sekhar Bandhopadhyay: From Plassey to Partition: A History of Modern India 6. B. L. Grover; S. Grover: A New Look of Modern Indian History 7. W Cooke Taylor: A popular History of British India 8. Percival Spear: The Oxford History of Modern India (1740-1975) 9. R. C. Majumdar: (Volume-I / Volume-II) British Paramountcy and Indian Renaissance
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6.8 ANSWERS TO CHECK YOUR PROGRESS
Answer to the question no 1: In 1798 Answer to the question no 2: Lord Wellesley Answer to the question no 3: Nizam of Hyderabad Answer to the question no 4: Any native ruler who entered into a subsidiary alliance with the Company (East India Company) recognised it as a paramount power. Answer to the question no 5: Between Napoleon and England Answer to the question no 6: The French Answer to the question no 7: The East India Company
6.9 MODEL QUESTIONS
A) VERY SHORT QUESTIONS (Answer each question within 50 words) Q. No 1: Why did English East India Company introduce Subsidiary Alliance in India? Q. No 2: Mention one demerit of the Subsidiary Alliance. Q. No 3: In which year Peshwa of Maratha signed the Subsidiary Alliance? Q. No 4: When did Wellesley send British envoy to the Court of Persia? B) SHORT QUESTIONS (Answer each question within 150 words) Q. No 1: Discuss the Subsidiary Alliance. Q. No 2: Write a short note on the merits of the Subsidiary Alliance. C) LONG QUESTIONS (Answer each question within 300-500 words) Q. No 1: Discuss Wellesley’s relation with the French Q. No 2: Estimate Wellesley in your own words.
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8 0 History (Block 1) UNIT 7 : MYSORE AND THE EAST INDIA COMPANY
UNIT STRUCTURE :
7.1 Learning Objectives 7.2 Introduction 7.3 Conflict between the East India Company and Mysore 7.3.1 First Anglo Mysore War (1767-1769) 7.3.2 Second Anglo Mysore War (1780-1784) 7.3.3 Administration of Hyder Ali 7.3.4 Third Anglo Mysore War (1790-1792) 7.3.5 Forth Anglo Mysore War ( 1799) 7.3.6 Administration of Tipu Sultan 7.4 Let us sum up 7.5 Further reading 7.6 Answer to check your progress 7.7 Model questions
7.1 LEARNING OBJECTIVES :
After going through this unit, you will be able to Know about the status of Mysore in the 18th Century Discuss the rise of Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan Explain the Conflict between the East India Company and HaiderAli and Tipu Sultan
7.2 INTRODUCTION
In this unit, we are going to discuss the conflict between East India Company and two Indian rulers - Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan of Mysore. Originally Mysore was a small Hindu Kingdom in southern India. The Kingdom was ruled by Wodeyear family since 14thcentury. Initially, it was a vassal state of the Vijaynagar Empire. With the decline of the Vijaynagar
History (Block 1) 8 1 Unit 7 Mysore and The East India Company
Empire the Kingdombecame independent. The 17th Century saw a steady expansion of its territory and touched now southern Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The Mysore rulers Chikka Dev Wodeyar (1704) had rendered allegiance to the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb when Mughal armies overran southern India. During the time of Chikka Krishnaraja Wadiyar II, Mysore was actually rule by Devraj and Nanjarah. Haider Ali joined in the army of Nanjaraj as a Cavalier. It was Haider Ali, a military adventure of humble origin, who made Myshore powerful enough to challenge the Marathas and the English. The kingdom reached the height of its military power and dominion in the later half of the 18th Century under the De-facto ruler Haider Ali and his son Tipu Sultan. During this time, it came into conflict with the Marthas , the Nizam of Hyderabad and Kingdom of Travancore and the British which culminated in the four Anglo-Mysore wars.
LET US KNOW The name Mysore in an anglicised version of Mahisuru, which means the abode of Mahisha in the local Kannada language. Though in Sanskrit Mahisha means buffalo, here Mahisha refers to Mahishasura, a mythological demons who could assume the form of both human and buffalo. According to Hindu Mythology, the area was ruled by demon Mahishasura. The demon was killed by the Goddess Chamundeshwari, whose temple is situated atop the chamundi Hills. Mohishahura later became Mahisure, its present name in the Kannada language.
7.3 Conflict between the English and Mysore
Mysore under Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan was a source of Danger to the British power in India during the 2nd half of the 18th Century. There were many factors which were responsible for unhappy relations between the English East India Company and Mysore. Hyder Ali had secured valuable aid from the French in his early phase of Career. Hyder Ali retained French
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Advisers to organise and train his artillery companies. Throughout the Carnatic wars, Hyder Ali and his Mysore battalions served alongside French commanders. The capture of Villenore by Eyre Coote exercised a demoralising influence on Hyder Ali and weakened his alliance with the French. When Hyder Ali was busy in crushing his opponents in Mysore, the English did much discredit him. This was strongly resented by Hyder Ali. Secondly, there was enmity between Mahammad Ali of Arcot and Hyder Ali Territorial disputes concerning certain districts Dindigal, Karur and Palni also caused friction between these two Muslim rulers. Mohammad Ali allowed British Troops to be stationed at Vellore and this was not approved of by Hyder Ali. The English suspected Hyder Ali had design to usurp and occupy Carnatic. The Marathas were not satisfied with him because they could not tolerate his policy of expansion and Hyder Ali also had refused to pay Chauth to them. The Nizam also disliked Hyder Ali. As a matter of fact , the Madras Government encouraged the Nizam to take up arms against Hyder Ali and offered to give necessary military help for that purpose. A Military alliance was entered into between the English company and the Nizam. The Nizam already enjoyed the support of the Marathas and thus a triple alliance was formed against Hyder Ali. In November, 1767, the Madras Government concluded a treaty with the Nizam by which it agreed to pay him a tribute of Rs. 5 lakhs for the three Nothern Circars. The Madras Government also promised not acquire the Circar of Guntoor as long as Basalat Jang lived. The British promised military help to Nizam against his enemies. The madras Government was eager to acquire Carnatic and Balaghat which were then held by Hyder Ali and agreed to pay Rs. 7 lakhs to the Nizam for its Diwani. This engagement acknowledged the sovereignty of the Nizam over the dominions of Hyder Ali. Both the Nizam and the Poona Government were very keen to prey upon the territories of Hyder Ali and the British Government also agreed to help them.
History (Block 1) 8 3 Unit 7 Mysore and The East India Company 7.3.1 First Anglo Mysore War (1767-69)
The British alliance with the Nizam provoked Hyder Ali, the ruler of Mysore. With British forces under Col. Smith, the Nizam advanced into Mysore in August 1767. It is true that Hyder Ali was faced with a very serious situation but he rose to the occasion and was able to win over the Marathas by promising them a sum of Rs. 23 lakhs. He also managed to win over the Nizam. The result was that the English were left alone. The British fought well but the opposition of Hyder Ali and his son Tipu was formidable. Tipu Sultan was able to reach near Madras itself plundered it suburbs. The Madras authorities became panicky and begged for peace. Hyder Ali virtually dictated the terms of peace which were concluded on April 4, 1769. The treaty showed that Hyder Ali was both a strategist and diplomat. His success was also due to the efficiency and superiority of his vast cavalry which made it possible for him to campaign on an extensive scale. The treaty of 1769 was based on the Mutual restitution of conquests but the fort and the district of Kurur were to be retained by Hyder Ali. There was also provision for an alliance for mutual aid in case either party was attacked by a third power. The Madras authorities had to agree to his clause as Hyder Ali insisted on this. This was advantageous to Hyder Ali as he was always in danger of attacks from the Marathas. Thus ended the first Anglo Mysore War.
Fig 7.1: Mysore War
8 4 History (Block 1) Mysore and The East India Company Unit 7 CHECK YOUR PROGRESS 1. Name two Hindu Ministers of Mysore in the 18th Century...... 2. Who was the Nawab of Carnatic? ...... 3. Which are the states of Triple Alliance against Hyder Ali? ...... 4. Which year did the first Anglo Mysore War start? ...... 5. The First Anglo Mysore war went in favour of English / Hyder Ali......
7.3.2 Second Anglo Mysore War (1780-84)
The terms of the treaty of 1769 were not fulfilled by the Madras Government. When the Marathas under the leadership of Peshwa Madhav Rao invaded Hyder's territories in 1771, the English did not help him. This naturally offended the Mysore ruler. In 1778, the War in America broke out between the English and the French. The English began by capturing Pondicherry and other French outposts in 1778. They then captured the French controlled port at Mahé on the Malabar Coast in 1779. Mahé was of great strategic importance to Hyder, who received French-supplied arms and ammunitions through the port, and Hyder had not only explicitly told the British but it also was under his protection, he had also provided troops for its defence. In July 1780 Hyder Ali came down upon the plains of the Carnatic. He defeated an English Detachment under Col. Baillie and seized Arcot. But Warren Hastings soon sent Eyre Coote to the south against Hyder Ali. In the meantime, Hastings succeeded in separating Marathas from Hyder. In the beginning Hyder Ali defeated Sir Eyre Coote. But then the English attacked Portonovo and defeated Hyder in 1781. The English captured Negapatam in 1781 and Trincomali, the best hardbour in Cylon from the Dutch. After that in the battle of Pollilore and Sholinghur, Hyder Ali was
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badly defeated. In the meantime, war broke out between Holland and England. Thereupon, the Dutch helped Hyder Ali. An English force under Col Braithwaite was defeated by Mysore troops. Major Abingdom attack Haider Ali and defeated him. While the war was going on, a French fleet under Admiral Suffern reached India. Unfortunately Hyder Ali died in 1782. He was succeeded by his son Tipu Sultan who carried on the War and captured the Fort of Bednur in 1783. In the meantime, colonel Fullarton attacked his capital Seringapatam. This compelled Tipu to sign a treaty at Mangalore in 1784. The treaty of Mangalore concluded the War on the basis of the mutual restitution of conquests and liberation of Prisoners of war. Hastings did not like the terms of the treaty.
7.3.3 Administration of Hyder Ali
Before going to discuss third Anglo Mysore War, one should know about Hyder Ali's Administration. Hyder Ali was one of the dynamicpersonalities in the History of India. Hyder Ali was endowed with many gifts. This is evident from his rise to political and Military eminence from a position of obscurity. Although Hyder Ali was illiterate yet he knows to speak many languages and had a remarkable memory. Hyder Ali was an able administrator and practised religious tolerance as well. He treated the Hindus well and gained their support. In spite of being a devout Muslim, he minted coins featuring Hindu Deities such as Lord Shiva, Parvati and Lord Vishnu. Wilkes, the Historian of Mysore, describes him as the 'most tolerant' of all Muslim princes.
Fig 7.2: Hyder Ali
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In military affairs, he excelled in capacity for organization rather than in strategy and tactics. Hyder Ali though borrowed some techniques from the Mughals, brought some reformation in his administrative sects. As early as 1755-56 he used the services of Frenchmen to organize his artillery, arsenal and workshop. He laid a brilliant combination of the mobile cavalry organised on the Mughal pattern with his increasingly disciplined musket using infantry. Hyder Ali’s regime represented a combination of the existing institutions of Mysore Raj with an influx of Mughal elements. Hyder commanded the entire sea board from Sadashivagad to Cochin. He started a ship-building programme with the help of Portuguese and Dutch but it failed. The Mughal elements were invoked to increase the state's share in agrarian revenue and to centralize the administration. In this system, the land tax was directly imposed on peasants. By directly collecting revenue in the larger part of his dominions, Hyder Ali was thus enabled to concentrate resources on improving and enlarging his army. Hyder Ali tried to introduce as much as modernization as he could in his army, while retaining and developing inherited Indian elements in other sphere of administration. Haider Ali transformed the small principality of Mysore into one of the big powers of the South. LET US KNOW Warren Hastings became the governor of Bengal in 1772 and by Regulating Act of 1773 he became the Governor general of Bengal. He had to contend with the two restless and expanding powers in the Marathas and Hayder Ali of Mysore.
CHECK YOUR PROGRESS 6. Name the Governor General during the time First and Second Anglo Mysore War...... 7. Name the Commandar in Chief of the English in the Battle of Pollilure...... 8. Which city concluded Second Anglo Mysore war and when? ...... 9. In which year Hyder Ali died? ......
History (Block 1) 8 7 Unit 7 Mysore and The East India Company 7.3.4 THIRD ANGLO MYSORE WAR (1789- 1792) :
Lord Cornwallis, who became Governor general in 1786, was formally found by Pitt's India Act to refrain from pursuing a Policy of War and Conquest, but he anticipated war with Tipu. Lord Cornwallis worked on the Anti-Tipu suspiciousof the Nizam and the Marathas and arranged a Triple Alliance (1790) with them against Tipu convinced of the inevitability of war with the English, Tipu had sought the help of the Turks by sending an embassy to Constantinople in 1784 and again 1785 and on to the French King in 1787.
Fig 7.3: Mysore War A conflict arose between the Raja of Travancore and Tipu Stultan. In 1789 the Raja purchased the towns and forts of Gaganore and Ayacoltah from the Dutch in Cochin State. Tipu considered the Cochin state as his tributary state and Tipu claimed that the act of the Travancore Raja as violation of his sovereign rights. He decided to attack Travancore in April 1790. The English sided with the ruler of Travancore and declared War against Tipu. At the head of a large army Cornwallis himself marched through Vellore and Ambur to Bangalore and approached Siringpatam. The English captured Coimbatore. Supported by the Marathas and Nizam's troops the English made a second advance towards seringapatam. Tipu offered tough resistance but realised the impossibility of carrying further the struggle. Tipu sued for peace and the Treaty of Seringpatam was concluded in 1792. By this treaty, of Seringaptam, Tipu Sultan had given up half of his territory. Tipu had also to pay war indemnity of over three crores of Rupees. 8 8 History (Block 1) Mysore and The East India Company Unit 7
The British acquired Baramahal, Dindigual and Malavar while the Marathas got Territory on the Tungabhadra side and the Nizam acquired territories from the Krishna to beyond the Pennar.
7.3.5 FORTH ANGLO MYSORE WAR (1799)
Tipu Sultan could not forget the humiliating treatment which had been meted out to him by Cornwallis. He was determined to have his revenge. He sent his emissaries to Kabul, Constantinople, Arabia and Mauritius. The sultan planted the tree of liberty of Seringpatam. He was elected a member of Jacobin club of France. He tried to correspond with Napoleon who was in Egypt at that time. French generals were drilling his forces. But the arrival of imperialist Lord Wellesley as Governor General in 1798 in the backdrop of Napoleonic danger to India changed the situation. Wellesley was determined to either tame Tipu to submission or wipe out his independence altogether. Wellesleytried to win over the Nizam and the Marathas and succeeded so far as the Nizam was concerned. The Nizam entered into a subsidiary alliance with the English Company in September 1798. Having got the support of the Nizam on his side, Lord Wellesley demanded absolute submission from Tipu Sultan. But Tipu sultan did not carry out the command and war was declared. The main army was under General Harris and he proceeded towards Mysore. A farce from Bombay also marched towards Mysore. The armies carried everything before them and reached Seringaptam. Tipu Sultan refused to accept the humiliating terms offered to him and died fighting in the ramparts of Seringpatam.
Fig 7.4: Mysore War
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The members of Tipu family were interned at Vellore. The English annexed kanara, Coimbaotre, Wynead, Dharpuram besides the entire sea cost of Mysore. Some territories were given to the Nizam. A boy of earlier Mysore Hindu royal family was installed on the throne of Mysore and a Subsidiary Alliance was imposed. Although Lord Wellesley did not annex the whole of Mysore, he brought the whole territory under the effective control of the company. Later on Lord William Bentinck merged the Mysore Kingdom into British Territory. But in 1881 Lord Ripon returned it to its former Hindu dynasty.
7.3.6 ADMINISTRATION OF TIPU SULTAN
Tipu Sultan was the embodiment of all civil, political and military authority in the state. He was his own foreign minister, his own commander- in-chief and acted as the highest court of appeal in his kingdom. But Tipu Sultan did not behave like an irresponsible despot. He took great care to work for the welfare and happiness of the people.
Fig 7.5 : Tipu Sultan Here will we discuss the different aspects of the administration of Tipu Sultan. The administration of Tipu Sultan can be categorized - Central Administration Provincial and Local Administration Land Revenue Trade and Commerce Military Administration
9 0 History (Block 1) Mysore and The East India Company Unit 7 THE CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION Tipu sultan introduced a number of change in the system of government he inherited from his father. Each department was put under the charge of a Chief assisted by a number of subordinate officers who constituted a Board. There was no office of the Wazir or Prime Minister in Tipu's Administration. The seven principal departments each under Mir Asif was directly responsible to the Sultan. The Seven departments were the Revenue and Finance Department (Mir Asaf Cutchehri), The Military Department (Mir Miran, Cutchehri and the Zumra), the Commerce Department (Malikut-Tujjar Cutchehri), the marine Department (Mir Yam Cutchehri) and the Treasury and Mint Department (Mir Khazaain Cutchehri) Besides there were some minor departments like post & Intelligence Department, the Public Buildings Department, the Cattle Department etc.
PROVINCIAL AND LOCAL ADMINISTRATION:-
After 1784 Tipu sultan divided his kingdom into seven provinces called Asafi tukris. Later the number of Provinces was increased to 17. The two principal officers in a Province were the Asaf (civil Governor) and the Faujdar (military governor) and the two were expected to act as a check on each other. The provinces were further divided into districts and each district were divided a number of villages. The traditional village panchayats provided the infrastructure for local administration.
LAND REVENUE
Tipu Sultan continued the revenue system of Hyder Ali by and large but introduced great efficiency into it. He tried to establish direct relationship between the Government and the cultivator by discouraging the Jagirdari System, resumption of unauthorised inam (rent free) lands and confiscation of the hereditary and land rights of the poligars (zamindars). The land
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revenue demand of the state ranged from 1/3 to ½ of the total produce, depending on the fertility of the land and availability of irrigation facilities. The Government employed the method of inducement cum compulsion to bring more land under cultivation. The Amil, in charge of the district, toured his district and sanctioned taqavi (advances of money) loans to the needy peasants to purchase ploughs and extend cultivation. Further if the Amil found that in a household there were a number of men and a few ploughs, he would urge the head of the family to acquire more ploughs. The Amil could charge the land tax cultivated on the basis of all cultivable land and not the land under actual cultivation.
TRADE AND COMMERCE :
Tipu also realised that a country could be great only by developing its trade and commerce. He promoted both foreign and inland trade and imposed tight government control over it. Realising the importance of trade with the Persian gold and Red sea regions, he sought to establish commercial factories and stationing commercial agents at Muscat, Ormuz, Jeddah, Aden etc. He even planned to establish commercial relations with Pegu and China. A Commercial Board was established and the Regulations of 1793-94 set forth the general duties of the officers in the department. He declared government monopoly of trade in sandalwood, betel nut, pepper, cardamoms , gold and silver bullion, foreign export of elephants etc. a number of factories were set up in the Mysore state which manufactured a wide range of articles ranging from war ammunition, paper, sugar, silk fabrics, small tools and fancy goods.
MILITARY ADMINISTRATION :
Tipu Sultan gave his maximum care to the raising and maintenance of an efficient Military force. Tipu Sultan's infantry was disciplined after the European model with Persian words of Command. He did employ French Officer to train his troops and raised a French Corps. The strength of the
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Tipu's army varied in accordance with Military requirement and resources available. Tipu Sultan paid attention to the need for an effective naval task force. In 1796 Tipu set up a Board of Admiralty and planned for a fleet of 22 battleships and 20 large frigates. Three dockyards at Mangalore, Wajidabad and Molidabad were established. As an administrator and ruler, Tipu Sultan was successful and earned the praise of his adversaries.
CHECK YOUR PROGRESS 10. Who was the Governor General during the time of Third Anglo Mysore War? ...... 11. Who was the Governor General during the time of Forth Anglo Mysore War? ...... 12. Name of Foreign Club where Tipu Sultan was elected as a member...... 13. Name the renowned person in the World History whom with Tipu Sultan tried to correspond......
7.4 LET US SUM UP:
After going through this unit you have learnt that: Hyder Ali became the real ruler of Mysore by defeating the Hindu Raja of Mysore. It was a time when Marathas were weak and Nizam was incompetent. Hyder Ali therefore began to expand which was not tolerated by the company. He was also not liked by the Marathas and the Nizam. The company declared war on him but the Hyder Ali paralysed the English power in the First Battle of Anglo Mysore in 1769 and signed the treaty of Madras. Hyder Ali died in 1780, when second Anglo Mysore Battle was going on. Tipu Sultan, the son of Hyder Ali ended this battle by the treaty of Mangalore.
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After the death of his father Hyder Ali, Tipu Sultan was trying to have his strong foothold. This way he was becoming an eye sore to the company. This led to the outbreak of the Third Anglo Mysore war 1792 and the Fourth Anglo Mysore War in 1799 As a result of the Fourth Anglo Mysore War, Mysore was annexed to the company which got Canara, Coimbatore and Seringapatam. It was also decided that the successors of Tipu will not succeed him. But the throne was given to the Hindu family from whom Hyder Ali had usurped the Kingdom and Kingdom also came under subsidiary Alliance. Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan divided the Government under different department and ruled. Western Military education was introduced and secularism policy was taken up.
7.5 FURTHER READING :
1. Chopra P.N., Puri B.N., Das M.N. Pradhan A.C. (1996) A New Advanced history of India, Delhi, Prentice Hall of India. 2. Majumdar , R.C. Ray Choudhury, H.C. Dutta , K, (1996) An Advanced History of India, New Delhi , Macmillan India Ltd. 3. Grover, B.L. Mehta, Alaka (2011) A new look at Modern Indian History, New Delhi, S. Chand & Company Ltd. 4. Banerjee A.C. (1985) History of India , Calcutta, A Mukherjee & Co. Pvt. Ltd. 5. Roberts P.E. British Rule in India, 1952 Oxford University Press.
7.4 ANSWER TO CHECK YOUR PROGRESS
Ans. Q.No.-1 Nanjaraj and Devaraj Ans. Q.No.-2 Mohammad Ali Ans. Q.No. 3 Nizam Maratha and British Ans. Q.No.-4 - 1767
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Ans. Q.No.-5 - Lord Warren Hastings Ans. Q.No.-6 - Hyder Ali Ans. Q.No.-7 - Sir Eyre Coot Ans. Q.No.-8 - Mangalore 1784 Ans. Q.No.-9 - 7 Dec 1782 Ans. Q.No.-10 - Lord Cornwallis Ans. Q.No.-11 - Lord Wellesley Ans. Q.No.-12- Jacobine Club Ans. Q.No.-13- Napoleon
7.7 MODEL QUESTION :
A. Very short questions : (Answer each question within 50 words) Q1. Between whom was the treaty of Mangalore signed? Q2. By whom and where Seriangapatam was captured? Q3. What was the immediate cause of the Third Anglo Mysore war? B. Short questions : (Answer each question in about 150 words) Q1. Discuss the importance of the treaty of Serirangapatam. Q2. Discuss the important feature of the treaty of Mangalore. Q3. Briefly discuss the qualities of Hyder Ali C. Long type question (Answer each question in about 300 to 500 words) Q1. Give a brief account of the First and Second Anglo Mysore War. Q2. Critically discuss the administration of Tipu Sultan
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REFERENCES:
1) Aggarwal, R. C. : Constitutional History of India and National Movement. S. Chand & Company, New Delhi. 2) Barpujari, H. K. (Ed) (1993) : The Comprehensive History of Assam, Vol-V. Asom Prakashan Parishad, Guwahati. 3) Chandra, Bipan (1966) : Rise and Growth of Economic Nationalism in India. Anamika Pub & Distribution, New Delhi. 4) Chandra, Bipan (1979) : Nationalism and Colonialism in Modern India. Orient Longman. 5) Chandra, Bipan (Ed.) (1987) : India’s Struggle for Independence. Penguin Global, Delhi. 6) Desai, A. R. (1948) : Social Background of Indian Nationalism. Popular Prakakhan Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai. 7) Dutt, R. P. (1949) : India Today. People’s Publishing House, New Delhi. 8) Guha, Ranajit (1983) : Elementary Aspects of Peasant Insurgency in Colonial India, Delhi. 9) Grover, B. L. and Grover, S. (2009) : Modern Indian History (From 1707 to the Modern Times). S. Chand & Company Ltd. 10) Saikia, Arup (2013) : Peasant Politics in Assam Since 1900. Routledge, Delhi. 11) Saikia, Rajen (2002) : Social and Economic History of Assam. Monohar Publisher & Distributors, New Delhi. 12) Sarkar, Sumit (1983) : Modern India 1885-1947. St. Martin’s Press. 13) Spear, Perceival (1997) : The Oxford History of India. OUP.
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