Till now we have read about the Robert Clive, Warren Hastings, Cornwallis, Wellesley, and Lord Hastings. These British officials laid and strengthened the British Raj in India. In the last post, we were studying about Lord Hastings. Pindari issue was also a major important incident during his period. We will discuss the Pindari issue and later will read about the Anglo-Nepal War.
Pindari Issue
During Lord Hastings, the Pindari issue became the cause of tension between EIC and Marathas. Pindaris were basically local tribes of Deccan. They were loose auxiliary forces of the Maratha army. So, during the Marathas pan-India expansion movement, Pindari helped them a lot.
But as the Marathas accepted the subsidiary alliance so now Pindaris became unemployed. So, they started creating trouble in Deccan. Lord Hastings appealed Marathas to control Pindaris. But when Marathas failed to fulfill this aspiration of EIC, Lord Hastings took action against Pindaris. So, this was considered as the attack on dignity and respect of Marathas.
So, this circumstance led to the third Anglo-Maratha war, 1816-1817. This war saw the end of Maratha power in Deccan. Peshwaship was also dissolved. Maratha Confederacy was completely subjugated. But to satisfy the Maratha sentiment a small state of Satara was formed with Pratap Singh place on the throne as the Maratha Ruler.
Anglo-Nepal War
Apart from the annexation of Rajputana and Deccan one of the important achievements of Lord Hastings was in Nepal. Nepal is a scientific boundary of Northern India. So, Lord Hastings conquered this boundary.
Nepal, during the time of Lord Hastings, was under the control of Gorkhas. Chinese forces stopped Gorkhas to penetrate the Northern side of Nepal. So, they started penetrating into the boundary of India. They were creating trouble for the EIC. This matter increased when EIC occupied Gorakhpur in 1801.
So, Lord Hastings took strict action against Gorkhas. They led to Anglo-Nepal war, 1814-16. In this war, EIC defeated Nepal and compelled to accept the treaty of Sagauli, 1816. By this treaty, EIC got Terai Belt and famous hill stations of lower Himalayas (Mussourie, Nainital, Shimla, and Nepal). So, in a whole Lord Hastings re-drew the boundary of India.
So, in this way, Wellesley and Lord Hastings turned EIC into an Empire in India. Now the work of the next governor-general was to consolidate this achievement. This was efficiently done by William Bentinck.
In the upcoming post, we will read about William Bentinck. Till then enjoy learning.
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