Political, Legal and Military History of India: Vol. 8: British Colonial Government in India
Contents: Preface. Comparative tables of A.H. and A.D. dates. 1. The English in Western India. 2. European and British connection with India. 3. The evolution of British sovereignty in India. 4. Early company’s government and its laws and polity. 5. Civil and military systems of the East India Company. 6. From simple to complex law, legislation and justice. 7. Rise and progress of politically-based Indo-British law. 8. The pioneer Englishman and his Indian wife. 9. Character of the people in company’s times. 10. An unknown factor in the annexation of Assam. 11. East India company and the Jagannath temple. 12. British military justice in India. 13. Abolition of corporal punishment in the native army. 14. All-powerful military board. Select bibliography. Index.
"The narrative of an empire’s rise and progress usually tells how the brook became a river, and the river became a sea. But the history of British India is peculiar and incongruous. It began without a strip of territory. A warehouse was expanded into a province, a province into an Empire" says Philip Anderson in "The English in Western India" and then adds ‘No needy client ever studied a praetor’s whims and caprices more attentively than did the English factors study the Great Mughals’. Toys, bull-dogs, landscapes, beaver hats and especially the alicant wine from England gave Emperor Jahangir immense pleasure. This is one aspect as how the English got foothold in India although the "European and British Connection with India’ dates back to the year 1204.
This book contains some very informative articles--‘Early Colonial Government’, ‘Introduction and Application of English Law and Polity in India’, ‘Civil and Military Systems of the East India Company’ by learned authors. The result was that from simple indigenous law, India came under complex law, legislation and justice. It was in the midst of chaotic and revolutionary movements then prevailing in India that the star of British ascendancy began to emerge from the political horizon and laws and regulations were framed to enhance the political power of the British. The English women also contributed a lot in establishing the alien power in this country.
But prejury and corruption arose amongst the Indian people due to the application of English political, legal, judicial and police system and Fredric John Shore regards Indian people better in honesty and morality than the English residents in India. ‘In this very quality, the Indians will shine to the most advantage’.
It is the system of military law, justice and supply organisation for the armed forces which was introduced by the British that proved very beneficial to India and is still largely in vogue.
This book makes an analytical and deep study of the subjects enumerated above." (jacket)
