Speech on the East India Bill : Summary

Summary

The Destruction of Indian Rulers

The speaker explains how the East India Company destroyed India, especially Bengal. First, he shows how the Company treated Indian kings and rulers. They made promises to protect them but broke those promises quickly. They removed old rulers and put in place greedy English officers. These new rulers only wanted to make money. The Indian people had to suffer under high taxes, cruel officials, and total injustice. The Company acted not as protectors but as cruel conquerors.

The Ruin of Bengal’s Landowners
When we look at Bengal, the situation becomes even worse. Bengal and the nearby provinces were larger than France. Before the British came, Bengal had powerful noble families, landowners, and religious institutions. But after the famine of 1770, instead of helping, Mr. Hastings made things worse. In 1772, he put up all the lands for public auction. He gave no special respect to the old landowners. Whoever offered the most money got the land. Many noble families were forced to give up their lands and live on pensions. Later, even those pensions were stopped in the name of economy.

The Rise of English Servants
The speaker points out that Englishmen’s personal servants became very rich. Hastings’s own servants got land, which gave them £140,000 in income per year. The speaker calls this an act of cruel injustice. It was done by a few young Englishmen who did not understand the history, culture, or importance of Bengal’s society. Because of this, old institutions were destroyed. Families who once lived in wealth and honour were now struggling to have breakfast.

The Collapse of Bengal’s Trade
The economy also collapsed. Earlier, Bengal had many traders and merchants who bought goods from local producers and sold them in markets. But the Company destroyed all middlemen. Only the Company and a few foreign traders could now buy goods. So, Bengal lost its independent business completely. The money collected through heavy taxes was used to buy goods, and those goods were sent to Europe. Bengal was left with no real trade of its own.

The Fall of Native Justice
The speaker says that government and justice also became worse. For a few years after the British took over, they kept the old Muslim criminal courts. But by 1781, they changed everything. They replaced the old courts with new ones managed partly by English officials and partly by Hindu landlords (Zemindars) who were not trained for law. The people had not asked for this change. It only led to more corruption and extortion.

The Destruction of Provincial Government
In 1772, the Company had set up provincial councils to manage revenue and civil justice. It was a sound system with checks and balances. The Directors in London had ordered that no changes should be made without their approval. But Mr. Hastings broke the system. He recalled the provincial councillors and removed fifty key officers. He left only one English collector in each province. Real control was brought back to Calcutta, where a secret committee of Hastings’s loyal followers managed everything. They made sure that no disagreements were recorded. Reports became short and meaningless. Native agents like Gunga Govind Sing, known for past corruption, were responsible for managing the money.

The Company’s Failure in Trade
The speaker says that in trading, too, the Company behaved like a fool and a cheat. A good merchant must buy goods cheaply and make wise contracts in business. However, the Company did not follow any good practices. Many contracts were given where a few individuals made huge profits. The speaker says that just one of these contracts could pay the Company’s annual dividend. Other bad contracts together could pay another year’s dividend.

Corruption in Company Accounts
The Company’s servants used Company resources to make profits for themselves. To stop their own board members from stealing profits, the governor had to pay them £50,000 to promise they would not cheat! Even in accounting, there was no honesty. In one case, the accountant general said he could not even ask for bills because the agent was “on his honour.” This way of handling money destroyed all sense of responsibility.

The Ruin of Company Finances
The Company borrowed money at very high interest rates without thinking. They bought goods on credit, paying up to twenty per cent discount, and later had to face huge debts. They had four million pounds of bills due and no proper plan to pay. With an alarming exchange rate, they had to borrow from their own servants at five percent interest. The speaker asks: Did they even think if their sales could cover these huge debts? No, they did not. Their mismanagement ruined Bengal and put Britain’s national credit at risk.

The Company Beyond Reform
The speaker says that the East India Company is too corrupt to be fixed from the inside. Some people proposed giving power back to the Court of Directors. But the speaker says this is foolish. The Directors were themselves part of the corruption. Letting them manage again would be like setting wolves to guard sheep. Just removing the Court of Proprietors would not help either. The same corrupt people would choose new Directors. So, real reform must come from outside the Company.

The Need for Independent Commissioners
The speaker supports the new reform bill. The bill proposes that a small group of independent commissioners, chosen by Parliament, run Indian affairs. These commissioners would serve for four years or as long as they behaved well. This would give them the time and power to do fundamental reforms. The speaker says some people are worried that this would increase royal power. But he says saving millions of people is more important than small fears about the Crown. Even so, he explains that the bill would not give new power to the King but would take away secret corruption from ministers.

Choosing Trustworthy Reformers
Some people also said that appointing the minister’s own supporters to the commission is wrong. The speaker replies that this is natural. A minister must appoint trusted people to carry out serious reforms. With so much distance and corruption in India, it is essential to have strong, honest men working for a long time without fear of losing their jobs.

The Fight Against Tyranny
The speaker says this is not just a small political debate. It is about saving millions of people from suffering. Mild corrections and small reforms will not work. Serious and bold action is needed.

Praise for the Reform Leader
At the end, the speaker praises the man who brought the bill (Mr. Fox). He says Mr Fox risked his own political future to help India. Even if people criticize him now, future generations will remember him with honour. The speaker feels proud to have even a small part in ending this great tyranny.