SOAS Research Online

Abstract

An attempt has been made in this thesis to describe the internal policy of Auckland, Governor General of India, from 1836 to 1842. This aspect of Auckland's administration has been neglected by historians, who have confined their studies mainly to his foreign policy, thereby conveying the impression that his Governor-Generalship was devoid of any important measure of reform. But we find that Auckland made a serious and successful attempt to grapple with various problems of administrative and social police, namely, education, religion, slavery, emigrant labour and judicial reform. The period of conquest was beginning to give way to that of administration, and the Charter Act of 1833 increased the scope of the Central Government and envisaged a policy of social justice. Auckland's contribution was the greatest in the field of education. He solved the controversy bequeathed to him by Bentinck end laid down a comprehensive educational policy for Bengal and tried to bring the educational activities of the three presidencies into closer contact. He also tried to link educational policy with the needs of the public services. Other aspects of Auckland's policy reveal his attitude to the way of life, social position and status of Indians. His policy towards religions was one of strict neutrality and he relied on gradual changes to effect the necessary reforms. He aimed at abolition of slavery through progressive amelioration. He also tried to protect the interests of emigrant labourers and failing in this prohibited emigration altogether. Auckland's judicial reforms aimed at improving the position of Indian judges and putting British subjects on the same footing as Indians before the Courts of law. Lastly, he made the administration of justice national by substituting the vernaculars for Persian in judicial proceedings.