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| Edmund Burke's Attitude to India |
Edmond Burke’s speech on the “East India Bill” deals with the British colonial rule over India. He was deeply moved by the sufferings of Indians under the rule of the East India company. Burke calls for Reform in the British Eastern administration. He thinks that the reform should be made for the sake of humanity, Justice, and principles of true policy. In the speech, Burke has presented India in graphic detail including its history, geography, territorial vastness, culture, ethnicity, etc.
India is a great empire. It is geographically very important. In the northern part of it is a solid mass of land, about eight hundred miles in length, and four or five hundred miles broad. Towards the southward, it becomes narrower. It afterward dilated. Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa, with Benares measure 161,978 square miles; it is a territory considerably larger than the whole kingdom of France.
Oude, with its dependent provinces, is 53,286 square miles, not a great deal less than England. The Carnatic, with Tanjour and the Circars, is 65, 948 square miles; it is considerably larger than England. Thus, India is a vast territory strictly ruled by the East India company.
India has a vast population. The population of this great empire is not easy to calculate. The population of India is not at much less than thirty million, more than four times the number of persons on the island of Great Britain. They do not consist of an abject and Barbarous populace. They are much less of gangs of Savages, like the Guaranies and Chiquitos, who wandered on the waste Borders of the river Amazons, or the Plate. But they are civilized and cultivate people by all the arts of polished life. In India, there have been princes once of Great Dignity, authority, and opulence. There is the chief of tribes and nations.
To emphasize the importance of India, Burke compares it with the empire of Germany and with the Austrian dominions. He compares the Nawab of Oude with the King of Prussia and the Nawab of Arcot with the Elector of Saxony. Cheit Sing, the Rajah of Benares ranks with the prince of Hesse; and the Rajah of Tanjore to the Elector of Bavaria. The polygars and the northern zemindars, and other great chiefs, a class with the rest of the Princes, Dukes, Counts, Marquises, and Bishops in the empire.
Burke in his “Speech on East India Bill” presents the sufferings of the Indians at the hands of those who govern India. Shah Alam was the de facto Emperor of India. He was a descendant of Tamerlane. He was amiable, pious, respectable, and had a profound interest in Oriental literature and aesthetics. But was becoming a victim of East India s maladministration.
India has a vast population. The population of this great empire is not easy to calculate. The population of India is not at much less than thirty million, more than four times the number of persons on the island of Great Britain. They do not consist of an abject and Barbarous populace. They are much less of gangs of Savages, like the Guaranies and Chiquitos, who wandered on the waste Borders of the river Amazons, or the Plate. But they are civilized and cultivate people by all the arts of polished life. In India, there have been princes once of Great Dignity, authority, and opulence. There is the chief of tribes and nations.
To emphasize the importance of India, Burke compares it with the empire of Germany and with the Austrian dominions. He compares the Nawab of Oude with the King of Prussia and the Nawab of Arcot with the Elector of Saxony. Cheit Sing, the Rajah of Benares ranks with the prince of Hesse; and the Rajah of Tanjore to the Elector of Bavaria. The polygars and the northern zemindars, and other great chiefs, a class with the rest of the Princes, Dukes, Counts, Marquises, and Bishops in the empire.
Burke in his “Speech on East India Bill” presents the sufferings of the Indians at the hands of those who govern India. Shah Alam was the de facto Emperor of India. He was a descendant of Tamerlane. He was amiable, pious, respectable, and had a profound interest in Oriental literature and aesthetics. But was becoming a victim of East India s maladministration.
Hafiz Reamet Khan ( 1710-1774) was a leading Rohilla chief. Shuja al Daula invaded and slain him. His head was cut off and delivered for money to a barbarian. His children were seen bagging a handful of rich through the English champ. The whole nation was massacred and the country was damaged by the invasion and turned into a dreary desert and jungle.
The natives of India were ruined by the Hypocrisy of the company. The first woman of Bangal dish as the Rani of Amboa was ruined by the thoughtless trust in the Company’s honor and protection. Mohammed Reza Khan, the second Mussulman of Bengal was stripped of ( taken away ) all his employment and was reduced to the lowest condition for having been distinguished by the honor of the countenance and protection of the Court of Directors. His ancient rival for power, Rajah Nunducomar was hanged in the face of his people for a pretended crime as a consequence of providing evidence against Hastings.
Thus, Burke vividly portraits India as a vast territory and the sufferings of the people here in order to reform the Company Government. He was deeply moved by the sufferings and grievances of the natives. He portraits the bleak picture of India and its inhabitants with sympathy.
The natives of India were ruined by the Hypocrisy of the company. The first woman of Bangal dish as the Rani of Amboa was ruined by the thoughtless trust in the Company’s honor and protection. Mohammed Reza Khan, the second Mussulman of Bengal was stripped of ( taken away ) all his employment and was reduced to the lowest condition for having been distinguished by the honor of the countenance and protection of the Court of Directors. His ancient rival for power, Rajah Nunducomar was hanged in the face of his people for a pretended crime as a consequence of providing evidence against Hastings.
Thus, Burke vividly portraits India as a vast territory and the sufferings of the people here in order to reform the Company Government. He was deeply moved by the sufferings and grievances of the natives. He portraits the bleak picture of India and its inhabitants with sympathy.
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