unit 8: establishment of british paramountcy in india 3rd sem/bachelor degree/history... · 2018....

UNIT 8: ESTABLISHMENT OF BRITISHPARAMOUNTCY IN INDIA

UNIT STRUCTURE

8.1 Learning Objectives

8.2 Introduction

8.3 Establishment of British Paramountcy in India

8.3.1 Anglo-Nepal War (1814-18)

8.4 Hastings and Indian States

8.4.1 The Pindaris

8.5 Anglo-Maratha Wars

8.5.1 First Anglo-Maratha War (1775-82)

8.5.2 Second Anglo- Maratha War (1803-05)

8.5.3 Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817-18)

8.6 Let Us Sum Up

8.7 Further Reading

8.8 Answers to Check Your Progress

8.9 Model Questions

8.1 LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After going through this unit, you will be able to:

State Lord Hastings’s establishment of paramountency upon Nepal.

Discuss the subjugation of Pindaris by the Hastings.

Discuss the process of Anglo-Maratha wars and its repercussions.

8.2 INTRODUCTION

In this unit we are going to discuss the establishment of British

paramountchy in India by Lord Hastings. In India British first began to

compete as equals and later gradually as superiors to the Indian powers.

After the victory of the British in the Carnatic wars with French removed

101History (Block 2)

their threat in India. More importantly from the Bengal battles (Battle of

Plassey, 1757 and Battle of Buxar, 1764) made British the real master inIndian history, led the process of their conquest in India. By 1765, the Britishbecome the virtual rulers of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa and after that througha series of wars and subsequent annexations several parts of India cameunder British control. These conquests were the result of aggressive policiesinitiated by Governor General Lord Wellesley (1798-1805), who establishedthe Company’s military ascendency in India. After Wellesley, Lord Hastings(1813-23) completed these fabrics of British dominion in India by establishingin unmistakable terms the political sovereignty of England over whole ofIndia.

8.3 ESTABLISHMENT OF BRITISH PARAMOUNTCYIN INDIA

Lord Hasting’s main objective in India was to make the Companythe paramount power in India and for that he sought to impose British‘paramountcy’ upon Indian states. This official policy became ‘paramountcy’the Company’s authority as paramount power superseded that of the Indianrulers. As a paramount power the Company considered itself justified inannexing or threatening to annex any Indian state, whenever conditions inthat state violated British authority. After wars when treaties were signedand in some treaties the Company inserted its rights to intervene in thestate under specified conditions. Nevertheless, even without such treatyprovisions or in some instances, in direct violation of them, the Companyintervened to dispose or set aside a ruler whenever the company felt justified.During Lord Hastings period, Nepal war (1814-16), Pindari war (1817-19)and third Maratha war (1817-18) was fought, each of the wars leading to

annexation.

8.3.1 Anglo-Nepal (Gorkha) War (1814-16)

Hastings in his Governor General ship in India had faced a war with

the Gurkhas of Nepal. Gorkhas were nominally the subjects of the Chinese

empire from the western Himalayas who captured the control of Nepal

102 History (Block 2)

Establishment of British Paramountcy In IndiaUnit 8

from the successors of Ranjit Malla of Bhatgaon in 1768. After capturing

Kathmandu, they steadily encroached both east and west. Kumaon, Garwhal

and the Simla hills had fallen to them in the first years of nineteenth century.

As a hardy people, the Gurkhas began to expand their dominion beyond the

mountains. But there further advance towards Sutlej blocked by the new

Sikh power and in the north they were checked by the Chinese. Due to this

they turned their attention towards the ill-defined frontiers of Bengal and

Oudh, when British ruled in India.

Already in 1801 British occupied the Gorakhpore districts, which

brought the Company’s frontier with the territory of the Gurkhas. Due to the

periodical rains, English withdraw their troops appointing native officers

there. Nepali troops had retired with a deliberate purpose and attacked

Butwal (north of basti district) and Sheoraj (further east of Butwal) in May

1814. In this attack Nepalese killed eighteen and wounding six police,

including a murder superior officer station at Butwal.

After this attack clash with the British emerged and Hastings as

also the Commander-in-chief of the army took it as a challenge and decided

to launch an attack against the Gurkhas along the whole frontier from the

Sutlej to the Kosi. Hasting decided to penetrate the Nepal frontier by four

groups of armies at same time under the four Generals i,e Marley,

Ochterlony, Gillespie’s and Wood. Major General Marley was ordered to

march to Hetura and from thence proceed to Kathmandu, the Capital.

General Ochterlony, at the head of Six thousand men, was ordered to

proceed from Loodhiana through the passes of the hills which overlook the

Sutledge and to act against the western districts. General Gillespie’s division

was to occupy the Dehra Doon and having mastered the important town of

Nahun to seize the passes of the Jumna and Ganges and to prevent the

retreat of the enemy to the westward. General Wood was ordered to

proceed from Gorakhpur for the purpose of resuming the lands in Butwal

and Sheoraj and then of menacing Pulpa.

In this attack of 1814-15 English armies consisting of 34,000 soldiers

as against the Gurkhas, which army consisting of 12,000. General Gillespie

first entered into the field in October 22, 1814 and took possession of Dehar,


Establishment of British Paramountcy In India Unit 8

the chief town of the valley. After that Gillespie attacked for of Kalunga or

Kalapanee, the mountain fortress, distant nine miles from Dehra, stands

upon insulated rugged ridges, nearly four miles in a straight line from north

to south, which is covered with jungles and elevated upward of 600 feet

above the plain. In this attack Gillespie was killed.

Gillespie’s successor, Major General Martindell took the command

on 19th December, 1814. The Gorkha garrison escaped into Jaitak, a post

on a point where two mountain ridges meet and elevated nearly 4000 feet

above the plains , but otherwise of little strength. Two columns were ordered

on the morning of 27th December under the Major of Ludlow and Richards.

But both the columns were faced heavy lose in Jaitak. In the first column

(Ludlow’s column), four officers, and thirty-five Europeans, with one hundred

and twenty sepoys killed and wounded. In the second Column’s (Richards)

three officers killed and five wounded, seventy eight men killed, two hundred

and twenty wounded. Due to these disasters further operation against Jaitak

was cancelled.

Ochterlony’s cautious movements with the first division, which he

led from the banks of Sutledge to the north-eastern hills, and occupied the

possession of hilly tract between Plassea and Belaspore. General Wood

with the third division passing through the sal forests, which extends in

front of the Bhotwal pass , but not successful. On the other hand General

Marley fled from the camp and made the best of his way to Calcutta.

Hastings saw it as a loss of prestige and renewed their efforts by

appointing Lieutenant Colonel Gardner and Captain Hearsay. Hearsay was

defeated at the hands of Gorkhas and wounded. He was taken as a prisoner

to Almora by Hast-Dal, the Gurkha conqueror. But Gardner with the help of

Colonels Nicholls (who joined with the Gardner with infantry and artillery

soldiers after the defeat of Hearsay) and Gardner succeeded in capturing

Almora in the Kumaon hills in April 1815.

After that General David Ochterlony wrested the fort of Malaon from

Amar Singh Thapa in May 1815. After the fall of Malaon, Gurkhas opened

negotiations for peace. But Hasting’s exorbitant demands compelled the

Nepal prince to refuse it and once again commenced hostilities.



David Ochterlony, who was deservedly placed as the head of the

main army advanced in February 1816 into the midst of those forest that

guard into the entrance into the Nepal and defeated the Nepalese at

Makwanpur on 28 February of 1816, which lasted several hours. A

detachment under the command of Colonels Kelly and O’ Halloran got

another victory and the Gurkhas compelled to accept the Treaty of Sagauli

in 4 March 1816, which earlier they rejected. According to the Treaty:

The Gurkhas surrendered to the Company the districts of Garhwal

and Kumaon, including a great portion of the Tarai.

The Tarai was marked as a boundary between them by pillars of

masonry.

The Gurkhas agreed to accept a British resident at Kathmandu and

permanently withdrew from Sikkim.

As loan recovery, (a loan of a crore of rupees obtained from the Nawab

of Oudh during the war, by the English) British handed over a part of

the Tarai in the Rohilakhand paragons to the Nawab.

The occupation of Nepal by the British had significance from the

British point of view. It extended the Company’s territory to the north-west

frontier up to the mountains. The English obtained the sites for the hill stations

and summer capitals of India- Simla, Mussoorie, Ranikhet, Landour and

Naini Tal. After that the route for communications with the remote regions

of central Asia was opened. British signed a separate Treaty with the Raja

of Sikkim on 10 February 1817 by which Company handed over to the Raja

a part of the territory lying between the Mechi and the Tista rivers which

gave the Company an effective barrier on the eastern frontier of Nepal.

Since the treaty of Sagauli the relation between Nepal and the English

became friendly, although sometimes occasional ill feelings happen. Later

Gurkhas, as one of the finest classes of soldiers in the world, served as

mercenaries for the English army.



CHECK YOUR PROGRESSQ 1: In which year Battle of Buxar was fought?

...................................................................................................

Q 2: Which year Lord Hastings became the Governor General of India?

....................................................................................................

Q 3: How many Generals were sent against the Gorkhas by the

Hastings?

....................................................................................................

Q 4: Write the name of one Gorkha leader in the Anglo-Nepal war.

....................................................................................................

Q 5: Which treaty ended the Anglo-Nepal war?

....................................................................................................

Q 6: Write the one provision of Treaty of Sagauli.

....................................................................................................

8.4 Hastings and Indian States

After arriving at Calcutta on October 13th, 1813 Hastings took strong

measures against the Indian states and his political outlook was different

than his predecessors. He observed that in earlier his predecessors

followed the policy by which they avoided in meddling with the native powers

and if they taken one half of the powers under British protection than the

other half was made as enemies. He criticised the war policy of Wellesley

and there is reference that in a debate in the House of Lords on 11 April

1791 he had questioned about the wisdom of the policy of war against Tipu

Sultan of Mysore.

As a soldier and statesman he adopted diplomatic and military

attainments against the Indian states. He proposed to end the anomalous

and unsatisfactory state of affairs in India and decided to maintain peace in

the country. He decided to resort strong measures in those states for the

protection of British subjects and allies from the inroads of freebooters,



whose created hostilities from his predecessors. He did not believe in an

expensive system of defence against these states, but desired for their

complete suppression. Hastings expected that such states as had not

become predatory tranquillity will be maintained by forming alliances with

them, which will remove the hostility.

Hastings these policies were showed against the Pindari raids, and

Marathas. He did not want a system of defence against the Pindari and

wanted for their complete suppression. Hastings believed that if Company

was to become the arbiter of the destiny of India, the independent Maratha

rulers like the Sindhia, the Bhonsle and Holkar must be destroyed.

8.4.1 The Pindaris

Marathi origin whose meaning is consumer of Pinda a fermented.

But in the 18th and 19th centuries the word was used to describe the hordes

of cruel marauders, whose main occupation was loot and plunder.

The Pindaries neither come from any particular area nor believe in

any particular religion. They were a heterogeneous party of all different

races and creeds. Plunder was the only work among the members of a

Pindari party. They followed a peculiar mode of warfare. They are not fought

pitched battles with regular armies, but march with their horses speedy on

the grain and provision which they plundered. Long bamboo spears were

used as weapons and someone used fire-arms also. Like swarms of locusts

they came and destroyed whatever province they visited.

In Indian history during the Mughal invasion of Maharastra in 1689,

the word Pindari was first used. In the time of Bajirao I (1720-40), the Peshwa

king they were used as irregular horsemen attached to the Maratha army

serving without pay for which they got the licence of plunder. After the 3rd

battle of Panipath in 1761, the Pindari leaders settled chiefly in Malwa and

served as auxiliaries of Maratha chiefs like the Sindhia and Holkar and the

Nizam, who were designated as Sindhia and Shahi Pindaries, Holkar Shahi

Pindaries and Nizam Shahi Pindaries. With the decline of Maratha power,

the Pindaries followed the life of plunder as an easier means of livelihood

than honest labour.



The Pindaries ranks swelled and many hardy peasants were

impelled to join their ranks. In the early 19th century the chief Pindari leaders

were Chitu, Wasil Mhuammad and Karim Khan. Gradually they extended

their operations in the Company’s territories in India. In 1812 the Pindaries

plundered the British districts of Mirzapur and Shahabad. In 1815 they raided

the Nizam’s dominions and in 1816 plundered the Northern sarkars.

Due to the attack of Pindaries, Lord Hastings decided to take strong

action against the Pindaries, which was directed by The Court of Directors

also. Hastings improved the Company’s diplomatic position by including

agreements with the Maratha chiefs, the Rajput Princes and the ruler of

Bhopal, getting promises of help against these robber bands.

Hastings to suppress the Pindaries along with defeat the Marathas

in one sweep prepared a large army of 1, 13,000 men and 300 guns.

Hastings himself took the command of the Northern Force and entrusted

the charge of Deccan army by Sir Thomas Hislop. By the end of 1817 the

Pindaries were driven across the Chambal and by January, 1818 their

organised bands were disbanded. Karim Khan surrendered and Wasil

Mohammad took refuge in the Sindhia’s camp, but latter handed him over

to the English. In captivity at Ghazipur, Wasil Muhammad committed suicide.

The other Pindari leader Chitu, escaped for safety to the forests, where he

was devoured by a tiger.

CHECK YOUR PROGRESSQ 7: What is the meaning of word Pindari?

....................................................................................................

Q 8: In which year the word Pindari was first used?

....................................................................................................

Q 9: Write the name of one Pindari leader of early nineteenth century?

....................................................................................................

Q 10: By whom the Pindaries were disbanded?

....................................................................................................



8.5 Anglo-Maratha wars

Marathas were successful in establishing themselves as a

predecessor of Mughal Empire in northern and southern India for a period

of one century. The rise of Maratha power is associated with Shivaji (1627-

1680), who welded the scattered Marathas into a mighty nation. He broke

the power of mighty Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in the Deccan. After his

death Maratha power received setback for a few years. Later Baji Rao –I

(1698-1740) and his successors tried to enhance the Maratha power. But

with the defeat of the Marathas in the 3rd Battle of Panipath (January, 14,

1761) during the time of Balaji Baji Rao (1740-61) by Ahmad Shah Abdali of

Afghanistan, they became weak.

In the last part of eighteenth century like the other native states of

India they became involved indigenous quarrels. By taking these advantage

British interfered in the affairs of Maratha Empire. When the disturbances

became common among the Maratha Empire, at the mean time success

of Palashi and Boxer made British more enthusiastic. To establish their

supremacy in India they saw Maratha as an immediate rival. Maratha, as a

Rajput states were not ready to accept the British suzerainty without

protesting against the British, which led several wars between them.

8.5.1 First Anglo-Maratha War (1775-82)

Like the Dual Government in Bengal British wanted to establish their

supremacy in Maharastra. The defeat of Marathas in the 3rd Battle of

Panipath, gave the British an opportunity to consolidate power in south

India. Although Peshwa Madhav Rao later again established the glory and

prestige of Maratha but after his death (1772) the situation became changed.

Madhav Rao’s son Narayana Rao and Raghunath Rao (Uncle of Narayana

Rao) were the rival claimants to the new vacant throne. When Raghonath

Rao murdered Narayana Rao in 1773, the Maratha Sardars under Nana

Phadnavis turned against him.



Due to the revolt against him, Raghunath Rao fled to Surat and sought the

Company’s support. British took advantage of the situation and concluded

the Treaty of Surat in 1775 under the approval of Bombay Presidency.

According to the Treaty:

English would provide 2,500 men as a military assistance in order to

help Raghunath Rao to become Peshwa.

Raghunath Rao will deposit jewellery worth Rs 6 lakhs as security in

British custody, as well as pay half a lakhs of rupees every month for

the upkeep of the British army.

Rao agreed to cede the British permanently Bassein, Salsette and the

four islands adjacent to Bombay.

Maratha raids into Bengal and the Carnatic were to cease and any

peace made by Raghunath Rao with the authorities in Poona was not

to exclude the English.

This treaty opened the path for the prolonged hostilities of the British

towards Maratha. But later Treaty of Surat was disapproved by the Calcutta

Council which asked the Bombay to reopen negotiations with the ruling

group in the Peshwa’s court at Poona. After the protracted negotiations,

the ruling groups signed treaty of Purandhar with the British on March,

1776, according to which:

The Company would restore Salsette and its surrounding islands.

Poona agreed to pay Rs 12 lakhs as war indemnity to British.

The Company was to restore those parts of Gujarat ceded to them by

Raghunath Rao or the Gackwad.

All treaties made with Raghonath and Gaekwad stood annulled while

those of earlier treaties (1739 and 1756) concluded with the Peshwa’s

court were reaffirmed.

But the Treaty was rejected by the court of Directors and emphasised

on keeping Bassien with them. After that Government of Bombay despatch

an army to Poona but was defeated. After defeating to the rout of the

Company’s retreating troops at Wadgaon, a Convention was held between

Mahadji Sindhia on behalf of the Marathas and Colonel John Carnac,

representing Bombay army on January, 16, 1779. The term of this treaty

were-110 History (Block 2)


LET US KNOWAhmad Shah Abdali was a leader of Afghan. In 1748

he first attempted to capture Sirhind, but failed. In 1751-52

he became successful and captured Lahore for four

months. In 1756 when Mughal empire further weakened, he than sacked

the Delhi and appointed Rohilla chief Najib Khan as the local guardian (entitled

Najib-Ud-Daula ) of the new empire. In 1759 he entered India for the fifth

time, but confronted not so much from the Mughals. After eighteen months

move and counter moves led the 3rd Battle of Panipath on January, 14,

1761. Through the skilful movements he defeated the Marathas in this battle.

The Bombay Government would no longer protected Raghunath

Rao and decided to return all the provinces to the Marathas, which

they conquered after 1773.

The troops advancing from Bengal were to be stopped and sum of

Rs 41,000 and two hostages (William farmer and Charles Stewart)

surrendered as security for fulfilling this condition.

Broach was to be handed over to Sindhia by the British.

But Warren Hastings (1773-1785) did not accept the Convention of

Wadgaon and sent a powerful army against Maratha under Goddard from

Calcutta to Ahmadabad through central India. Nana Phadnavis and Mahadaji

Sindhia proved too strong to the English, but defeated in 1779-80. In May

1782 at Salbai, located 32 kms to the south of Gwalior treaty was signed,

between Mahadji Sindhia, acting for the Peshwa Madhav Rao and the British,

which ended the first Anglo- Maratha war. According to the Treaty:

The Company was to restore all territories captured by them

(including Bassein) to the Peshwa and return to him and the

Gackwad territories taken in Gujarat.

Salsette and its three neighboring islands as well as the city of

Broach, were to remain with the British.

Territories granted earlier to the Company by Raghunath Rao would

be restored to the Marathas.



The Company was not to afford Raghunath Rao any support or

protection.

The Peshwa was to make Haider Ali relinquish his claims to British

territory.

Both Parties were to abstain from attacking each other allies, while

the Pehwa would neither support any other European power nor

allow it to settle in his dominions without the English consent.

The Company’s trade privileges were to be restored.

The Treaty of Salhai had great importance for the Company, which

secured peace with the Marathas for nearly 20 years.

Figure: 8.1 First Anglo-Maratha War

Source: Krishna Reddy, Indian History, p-c 57

8.5.2 Second Anglo- Maratha War (1803-05)

The second Anglo-Maratha war took place in 1802-1806 under the

Governor General Lord Wellesley. Wellesley aggressively interfered in the

internal affairs of the Marathas and he tried to impose subsidiary alliance

system against the various Maratha chiefs. After the death of Nana



Phadnavis departed all the wisdom and moderation in Maratha politics and

central authority became weak due to the mutual jealousy and wrangles.

Peshwa Bajirao II compelled to sign a subsidiary treaty with the English

which was called as a Treaty of Bassien (December 1802). By this treaty

The Peshwa agreed to permanently station a British army in his

territories a surrendered Surat.

The Peshwa agreed to sign up all claims for chouth on the Nizam’s

dominions and agreed not the resort to arms against the Gaekwar of

Baroda.

The Peshwa agreed to the Company’s arbitration in all matters relating

to the Nizam or the Gaekar.

The Peshwa promised not to employ any European other than the

British in his administration.

The terms of the treaty were humiliating to the Maratha pride. The

other Maratha chiefs were greatly annoyed by the treaty. Scindhia and

Bhonsale combined. Holkar and Scindhia patched up their difference.

However Holkar and Gaikward did not join Scindhia and Bhonsle in their

struggle with the English. War started. British army led by Wellesley the

brother of the Governor General defeated the combined armies of Sindhia

and Bhonsle at Assye and Argaon respectively in 1803. After this defeat

subsidiary Treaty of Deogaon was imposed upon Raghuji Bhonsale on

17th December, 1803. By these Treaty Bhonsle agreed to:

Cede the province of Cuttack to the English including Balasore.

Bhonsale will expel all foreigners from his service.

Bhonsale will accept British arbitration in all his disputes with the

Nizam or the Peshwa.

Bhonsale will respect treaties concluded by the British with his

feudatories.

A British envoy will be appointed at his court of Bhonsale . (Mount

Stuart Elphinstone was appointed in that capacity) Wellesley also

entered into subsidiary alliance with Sindhia, which made the Treaty

of Arjungaon in December, 30, 1803. According to this treaty:

Cede all territory between Ganga and the Yamuna.



Give up his control over the imperial cities of Delhi and Agra as well

as the Rajput states.

Surrender parts of Bundelkhand, Ahmadnagar, Broach, and

territories west of the Ajanta hills.

Sindhia will accept the treaty of Bassein.

Renounce all claims on the Peshwa, the Mughal emperor, the Nizam,

the Gaekwad and the English Company and to accept the latter as

a sovereign authority.

Sindhia will not to employ in his service any European without the

consent of the British.

Broach, Ahmednagar and the territories between the Ganges and

the Jamuna including Agra and Delhi.

Wellesley also imposed the Treaty of Rajpuraghat on December,

24, 1805, upon the Yashvant Rao Holkar as a subsidiary treaty.

To renounce all claims to the area north of the Bundi hills.

Holkar will never to entertain in his any European.

British promised not to disturb Holkar’s possessions in Mewar and

Malwa or interfere with the rulers south of the Chambal.

British will restore of his possessions situated south of the river

Tapti.

After the 2nd Anglo- Maratha war English gained complete control

over the coast of Orissa and the Maratha chiefs were became a disgruntled

puppet in the British hands.

Figure: 8.2 Second Anglo-Maratha War

Source: Krishna Reddy, Indian History, p-c-57



8.5.3 Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817-18)

The third and the final phase of the Anglo-Maratha struggle began

with coming of Lord Hastings as Governor General. Hastings viewed every

Maratha power as a prenatal enemy and wanted their complete submission.

On the other hand the Maratha chiefs were greatly resented against the

loss of their freedom to the British.

Hastings waited for a pretext. After the death of Raghunath Bhonsle

in 1816 a war of succession took place through which Hastings got the

pretext. As a part of war of succession, Appa Shahib, Maratha chief signed

Treaty of Nagpur with British in 1816. By the Treaty Company got the strategic

control over Nagpur, which was great advantage for both defence and

offence purposes.

In the mean time Peshwa Baji Rao II had been trying his best to

recover his independence, which was lost by him in the Treaty of Bessien.

Due to this on the suggestion of Company Gackwar of Baroda, a feudatory

of the English sent his chief minister Gangadhar Shastri to Poona to negotiate

with the Peshwa. However Gangadhar Shastri was assassinated at Nasik

in July 1815 at the instance of Trimbakji, the Chief Minister of Peshwa.

After the incident Montstuart Elphinstone demanded the immediate

arrest of Trimbakji. The latter was arrested and put jail, but he managed to

escape in the following year October 1816. Hastings urged Elphinstone to

demand the surrender of Trimbakji within a specified time and if the Peshwa

refused to accept proposed they should be treated as an enemy. Accordingly

on May 1817, British resident demanded for the surrender of Trimbakji within

a month as well as the surrender of the forts of Rajgarh, Sinhagarh and

Purandhar but Peshwa refused and open war took place in 1817. Accordingly

Treaty of Poona was signed between them. By this treaty:

Peshwa accepted the dissolution of the Maratha confederacy and

agreed not to establish relation with other powers without the approval

of the British president.

He ceded the fort of Ahmadnagar and transferred his rights over

Bundelkhand and Malwa to the Company.



Hastings next moved towards Kanpur to demand the submission

of Sindhia. He made it clear to Sindhia that the days of non intervention

were over and the British Government intended to cast its protection over

the states of Malwa and Rajputna. British compelled Daulat Rao Sindhia

on November 5, 1817 to sign the Treaty of Gwalior.

Both the parties would deploy their forces in operations against the

Pindaries and other freebooters.

Sindhia would never readmit the Pindaries nor lend them any

support.

Sindhia was to place 5,000 horsemen in active operations against

the Pindaries.

British forces would be permitted into the forts of Handi and Asirgarh.

Notwithstanding the earlier Treaty of Surji Arjangaon, the British were

at liberty to enter into engagements with the rulers of Udaipur,

Jodhpur, Kotah, Bundhi and other states on the left bank of the

Chambal.

Details of the earlier treaties of Surji Arjangaon and Mustafapur

(November 22, 1805) which were not affected by the provisions of

the new agreement were to remain in full force.

Although this Treaty destroyed the military strength of Maratha

chiefs but theoretically they were still an independent power. They

made last attempt to regain their lost position and old prestige after

1817, but defeated. Now Holkar chief Malhar Rao Holkar II signed

the Treaty of Mandasar on January 6, 1818.

Confirm a British commitment to the Pindari chief, Nawab Amir Khan

and renounce all claims to territories guaranteed to him.

Cede permanently four parganas rented by the Raja Raja Zalim

Singh of Kotah.

Cede to British claims of tribute and revenues on the Rajas of

Udaipur, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kotah, Bundi and Karauli.

Renounce all claims to territories within or north of the Bundi hills.

Holkar will station a British field force to maintain the internal security.



Holkar will not to employ any European without the Company’s

consent.

Appa Sahib the Bhosle Raja of Berar fled to Jodhpur from British

occupation. Bhonsle King surrenders the territories north of the Narmada.

Even almost all department the states has made under British control.

British made another treaty of Sindhia in June 1818. By this Treaty British

got Ajmer and fort of Islamnagar and a maintained a British army on a

permanent.

In this way Hastings destroyed the independence of Maratha and

established British supremacy over their vast territories. The wars marked

the complete collapse of the Maratha power, thereby criminating the most

powerful rival of the English. The Maratha states were completely deprived

of their fortified and military powers.

Figure: 8.3 Third Anglo-Martha War

Source: Krishna Reddy, Indian History,p-c58



CHECK YOUR PROGRESSQ 11: Between whom the 3rd Battle of Panipath was

fought?

....................................................................................................................

Q 12: Which year Treaty of Surat was signed?

....................................................................................................................

Q 13: Which Treaty ended the first Anglo-Maratha war?

...................................................................................................................

Q 14: Under whose Governor General Ship the 2nd Anglo-Maratha war

was fought?

...................................................................................................................

Q.15: Which Treaty ended the 3rd Anglo-Maratha war?

8.5 LET US SUM UP

After going through this unit you have learnt that,

Lord Hastings first established the paramountency in India.

Company’s power is paramount over the Indian states. Gorkhas were nominally the subjects of the Chinese empire from

the western Himalayas. British occupation of Gorakhpore districtsin 1801, led the Anglo-Nepal war.

Hasting penetrated to the Nepal frontier by four groups of armies atsame time under the four Generals i,e Marley, Ochterlony, Gillespie’sand Wood.

David Ochterlony defeated the Nepalese at Makwanpur on 28February of 1816 and Treaty of Sagauli in 4 March 1816 ended theAnglo-Nepal war.

Hastings political outlook against Indian states was different fromhis predecessors. He did not believe in an expensive system ofdefence against the Indian states, but desired for their completesuppression.

In 1689 during the Mughal invasion of Maharastra Pindari word wasfirst used and they were well known in Indian history in the 18th and19th centuries for their loot, plunder.



Lord Hastings took strong action against the Pindaries and January1818 their organized bands were disbanded. Karim Khan, WasilMuhammad, and Chittu, the Pindari leaders were became the victimof death.

After the defeat of the Marathas in the third Battle of Panipath (1761)by Ahmad Shah Abdali, they became weak and involved indigenousquarrels.

British took advantage of the struggle of Maratha chiefs. First Anglo-Maratha war was started during the time of Warren Hastings andTreaty of Salbai ended the war.

Wellesley aggressively interfered in the internal affairs of Marathapowers. Wellesley imposed subsidiary treaties upon the Marathas

during the course of second Anglo-Maratha war, which made them

powerless to oppose it openly. Treaty of Bassein with Peshwa Baji

Rao-II (1802), Treaty of Deogaon with Raghuji Bhonsale (17

December 1803) and Treaty of Surji Arjangaon with Sindha

(December, 30, 1803) and Treaty of Rajpuraghat with Yashvant Rao

Holkar (24, December 1805) was signed.

Marathas chiefs became resentment against the loss of their freedom

to the British. Third Anglo-Maratha war started during the time of

Lord Hastings and final submission of Marathas by the Treaty of

Mandasor (1818).

8.7 FURTHER READING

1. Bipan Chandra: India’s Struggle for Independence

2. Hermann Kukle; Dietmar Rothermund: A History of India

3. Philip Lawson. The East India Company: A History

4. Douglas M. Peer :India under colonial rule: 1700-1885

5. Sekhar Bandhopadhyay: From Plassey to Partition: A History of

Modern India

6. Percival Spear: The Oxford History of Modern India (1740-1975)

7. B. L. Grover; S. Grover: A New Look of Modern Indian History

8. W Cooke Taylor: A popular History of British India



9. R.C. Majumdar (Volume-I / Volume-II) British Paramountcy and

Indian Renaissance

8.8 ANSWERS TO CHECK YOUR PROGRESS

Ans to Q No 1: 1764

Ans to Q No 2: 13th October, 1813

Ans to Q No 3: Four

Ans to Q No 4: Amar Singh Thapa

Ans to Q No 5: Treaty of Sagauli

Ans to Q No 6: Tarai was marked as a boundary between them by a pillar

of masonry.

Ans to Q No 7: Consumer of Pinda, a fermented.

Ans to Q No 8: During the Mughal invasion of Maharastra in 1689, the word

Pindari was first used.

Ans to Q No 9: Wasil Muhammad

Ans to Q No 10: Lord Hastings

Ans to Q No 11: Third Battle of Panipath (1761) was fought between Ahmad

Shah Abdali and Marathas.

Ans to Q No 12: Treaty of Surat was signed between Raghunath Bhonsale

and British in 1775.

Ans to Q No 13: Treaty of Salbai

Ans to Q No 14: Lord Wellesley

Ans to Q No 15: Treaty of Mandasar on January 6, 1818, ended the 3rd

Anglo-Maratha war.

8.9 MODEL QUESTIONS

A) Very Short Questions (Answer each question within 50 words)

Q 1: What is the mode of warfare of Pindari?

Q 2: In which year the Wadgaon Convention was held?

Q 3: Who was Gangadhar Sastri?120 History (Block 2)


Q.5: Who assassinated the Gangadhar Sastri?

Q 4: Under whose Governor General the first Anglo-Maratha war was fought?

B) Short Questions (Answer each question in about 150 words)

Q 1: Write shortly about the term of parmountency by Lord Hastings.

Q 2: Write about Hastings policy towards the Indian states.

Q 3: Write about the origin of Pindari.

C) Long Questions (Answer each question in about 300-500 words)

Q 1: How did the Lord Hastings occupied Nepal.

Q 2: How did the Pindari problem was solved by the Lord Hastings.

Q 3: Discuss briefly about the subsidiary treaty signed by the Lord Wellesley

with the Maratha chiefs.

Q 4: Discuss the causes and repercussions of third Anglo-Maratha war.

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unit 8: establishment of british paramountcy in india 3rd sem/bachelor degree/history... · 2018....

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