Lord William Bentinck - Governor General of India - Modern India

Lord William Henry Cavendish-Bentinck (14 September 1774 – 17 June 1839), also known as Lord William Bentinck, was a British soldier and statesman. From 1828 to 1835, he was Governor-General of India. He is credited with significant social and educational reforms in India, including the abolition of sati and the prohibition of women from witnessing cremations on Varanasi's ghats, as well as the suppression of female infanticide and human sacrifice. Take FREE Mock Test For UPSC IAS. There was little opposition to Bentinck's Bengal Sati Regulation, 1829, which he passed after consulting with the army and officials. He, along with Thomas Babington Macaulay, pioneered the use of English as a language of instruction in India. This article focuses on Lord William Bentick and his role in transforming India which will be helpful for UPSC exam preparation.

Lord William Bentinck

Lord William Bentinck - Background

• Lord William Bentinck was born on 14th September 1774 in Buckinghamshire, England. He was the son of Britain’s former prime minister William Bentick.
• Bentinck joined the British army at the age of 16 and rose through the ranks to become a colonel by 1798.
• From 1828 to 1835, he was Governor-General of India.
• During his tenure as Governor-General of British India, he is credited with educational, social, and judicial reforms.
• During his tenure as governor of Madras, the Vellore Mutiny erupted in response to his order forbidding Indian troops from wearing their traditional garb.
• His army career was not over. He also served in the House of Commons. He was appointed Governor-General of India in 1828.
• His main task was to save the bankrupt East India Company. He was successful in establishing a sound financial management system for the company, but this was accompanied by a policy of westernization.
• He was influenced by the utilitarian principles of Jeremy Bentham and James Mill.

Reforms by Lord Bentick

During his tenure of seven years as the Governor-General of India, many reforms were introduced by him in the field of finance, education, and social reforms. Some of his reforms by him are discussed below:

1) Abolition of Sati

• Sati, the age-old custom of burning widows alive on their husband's funeral pyres, was practiced in India since ancient times. This inhumane social practice was widespread in northern India, particularly in Bengal.
• Bentinck was deeply troubled when he learned of 800 cases of sati in a single year, all of which occurred in Bengal.
• He was determined to put an end to this practice, which he saw as an affront to natural justice.
• As a result, he became a crusader against it, issuing Regulation XVII on December 4, 1829, outlawing the practice of Sati.
• Those who engaged in sati were sentenced as accomplices to the crime by law courts.
• The Regulation was extended to the presidencies of Madras and Bombay in 1830.

2) Female infanticide

• Female infanticide was one of the most heinous and heartless crimes committed by civilized people.
• This practice of killing female infants was widespread in Rajputana, Punjab, Malwa, and Cutch.
• Bentinck took effective steps to prevent the ritual of child sacrifice on Bengal's Saugar Island.
• He not only prohibited female infanticide but also made it a punishable offence.

3) Suppression of Thugs

• The most admirable measure taken by Bentinck, which contributed to the material well-being of the people, was the suppression of the 'thugs.' They were a family of robbers.
• They moved around in small groups of fifty to a hundred people, posing as commercial gangs or pilgrims and strangling and robbing peaceful travelers.
• They became more numerous in central and northern India during the 18th century when anarchy reigned following the disintegration of the Mughal Empire.
• Colonel Sleeman organized a systematic campaign against the thugs beginning in 1830. Over the course of five years, nearly 2000 of them were apprehended.
• The majority of them were exterminated, while the remainder were transported to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

4) Introduction to English Education

• Lord Willaim Bentinck's administration was marked by the introduction of English education.
• He formed a committee, chaired by Lord Macaulay, to make recommendations for the advancement of education.
• In his report, Macaulay emphasized the promotion of European literature and science to the people of India through the English medium. William Bentinck wholeheartedly accepted this recommendation.
• In 1835, the government passed a resolution making English the official and literacy language of India.
• In the same year, William Bentinck established the Calcutta Medical College.

5) Financial Reforms

• When Bentinck took over as Governor-General in 1828, the East India company's financial situation was dire. The exchequer was extremely weak. The state budget had a one-million-rupee deficit.
• It became necessary for the Governor-General to take effective measures to improve the financial situation. To accomplish this, he implemented the following measures:
  • He reduced all officers' salaries and allowances;
  • He reduced the number of officers on the payroll;
  • He abolished the double battalion system in the military department.
• At the time of his departure, the treasury had a surplus of Rs.1.5 million as a result of his financial reforms.

6) Administrative Reforms

• Administrative reforms implemented by Bentinck demonstrate his political maturity and wisdom.
• In the judicial department, he abolished Cornwallis' provisions for courts of appeal. They were largely to blame for the massive backlog of cases. The Directors readily accepted this step because it reduced their expenditure.
• Another good measure implemented by Bentinck was the use of local languages in lower courts and English in higher courts in place of Persian.
• Even in terms of revenue, Bentinck made a name for himself. He began the revenue settlements of the North West Province, which were overseen by R.M.bird.
• This agreement was made for a period of 30 years and was made with either the tillers of the soil or the landowners.

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Other Political Events

Direct Control of Mysore

• Following the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War, a young Raja of Mysore of the Wodeyar dynasty was installed on the Mysore throne. For a few years, relations between Britain and Mysore were friendly.
• However, in the late 1820s, there was a civil insurgency in Mysore. This was due to either financial oppression of British residents or misgovernment and oppressive taxation by the maharaja.
• As a result of these developments, the British gained direct control of Mysore in 1831.
• This arrangement lasted until 1881 when Mysore was returned to the native government and the lawful heir ascended to the throne.

Coorg War 1834

• In 1834, the British East India Company and the Raja of Coorg engaged in a brief but bloody conflict.
• After being defeated, the Raja was allowed to retire to Benares.
• The British Empire annexed Coorg. Lord William Bentinck's annexation of the Coorg was his only annexation.

Conclusion

Bentinck was described as a "straightforward, homely, upright, benevolent, and sensible man." His social reforms, such as the abolition of Sati and the prohibition of child sacrifice, wiped out long-standing evils in Hindu society. It's encouraging to see that "Bentinck acted where others had talked." He was willing to jeopardize his own position in order to enforce the regulations prohibiting Sati. Such bravery and forthrightness were uncommon among administrators at the time. His educational reforms ushered in a new era in India.