Warren Hastings and Cornwallis — Revision Notes

⚡ 30-Second Revision

Warren Hastings (1772-1785): — First Governor-General. Abolished Dual Government (1772). Farming System for revenue. District Diwani/Faujdari Adalats. Supreme Court (Regulating Act 1773). Rohilla War (1774). Nand Kumar case (1775). Impeachment (1788-1795). Pragmatic consolidator.
Lord Cornwallis (1786-1793): — Systematic reformer. Permanent Settlement (1793) – Zamindars, Sunset Law. Cornwallis Code (1793) – judicial separation (Collector vs. Judge), hierarchical courts. Thana system (Darogas). 'Father of Indian Civil Service' – increased salaries, ban on private trade, exclusion of Indians. Third Mysore War (1790-92).

2-Minute Revision

Warren Hastings (1772-1785) was the first Governor-General, tasked with stabilizing the East India Company's chaotic administration. He abolished the exploitative Dual Government, introduced the farming system for revenue, and established rudimentary district-level civil and criminal courts.

The Regulating Act of 1773, enacted during his tenure, created the Supreme Court in Calcutta, leading to jurisdictional conflicts like the Nand Kumar case. His controversial actions, such as the Rohilla War, eventually led to his impeachment, though he was acquitted.

Hastings was a pragmatic consolidator, adapting existing systems to British needs.

Lord Cornwallis (1786-1793) followed with a mandate for systematic reform. His most significant policy was the Permanent Settlement of 1793, which fixed land revenue in perpetuity with Zamindars as proprietors, aiming for stable revenue and a loyal landlord class, but often detrimental to peasants.

He radically reformed the judicial system through the Cornwallis Code, separating revenue and judicial functions and establishing a clear hierarchy of courts. Cornwallis also professionalized the civil service, increasing salaries and prohibiting private trade, earning him the title 'Father of the Indian Civil Service', though he systematically excluded Indians from higher posts.

His reforms institutionalized British rule, creating a more efficient but racially stratified administration.

5-Minute Revision

The period of Warren Hastings (1772-1785) and Lord Cornwallis (1786-1793) is pivotal for understanding the genesis of British colonial administration in India. Hastings, as the first Governor-General, inherited a Company in disarray.

His initial actions included abolishing the Dual Government system in Bengal, bringing direct control to the Company. He experimented with the 'farming system' for revenue collection and established a basic judicial structure with district Diwani and Faujdari Adalats.

The Regulating Act of 1773, a parliamentary attempt to control the Company, was implemented during his time, leading to the establishment of the Supreme Court in Calcutta and subsequent jurisdictional clashes, famously seen in the Nand Kumar case.

Hastings' pragmatic, often aggressive, policies like the Rohilla War, aimed at consolidating British power and finances, ultimately led to his lengthy impeachment trial in Britain, though he was acquitted.

His legacy is one of a crisis manager who stabilized the Company and asserted British supremacy, laying the groundwork for future administration.

Lord Cornwallis arrived with a clear mandate for systematic reform, influenced by Pitt's India Act of 1784. His most impactful reform was the Permanent Settlement of 1793 in Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa, which declared Zamindars as hereditary landowners responsible for paying a fixed revenue to the Company.

While intended to ensure stable revenue and create a loyal class, it often impoverished the peasantry and rigidified land tenure. Cornwallis also overhauled the judicial system with the Cornwallis Code (1793), which notably separated revenue collection from judicial administration, creating the office of District Judge and establishing a hierarchical court system.

He is celebrated as the 'Father of the Indian Civil Service' for professionalizing the bureaucracy: increasing salaries, strictly prohibiting private trade, and emphasizing merit for appointments (though systematically excluding Indians from higher positions).

His police reforms introduced the 'thana' system under Darogas. Cornwallis's reforms institutionalized British rule, creating a more efficient, rule-based, but racially exclusive administrative framework that profoundly shaped the future of British India.

The contrast between Hastings' adaptive pragmatism and Cornwallis's systematic anglicization is a key analytical point for UPSC aspirants.

Prelims Revision Notes

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Warren Hastings (1772-1785):

* Acts: Regulating Act of 1773 (first Governor-General, Supreme Court at Calcutta). * Administrative: Abolished Dual Government (1772). Shifted treasury from Murshidabad to Calcutta. Introduced 'farming system' for revenue (5-year contracts).

Established Board of Revenue. * Judicial: Established Diwani Adalats (civil) and Faujdari Adalats (criminal) at district level. Sadar Diwani Adalat & Sadar Nizamat Adalat at Calcutta. * Controversies: Rohilla War (1774), Nand Kumar case (1775), Begums of Awadh, Chait Singh of Benares.

Impeachment (1788-1795) by Edmund Burke. * Cultural: Patronized Asiatic Society of Bengal (1784) with William Jones.

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Lord Cornwallis (1786-1793):

* Acts: Pitt's India Act of 1784 (strengthened GG's position). * Revenue: Permanent Settlement (1793) in Bengal, Bihar, Orissa. Zamindars as proprietors, fixed revenue, 'Sunset Law'. * Judicial: Cornwallis Code (1793).

Separation of revenue and judicial functions (Collector vs. District Judge). Hierarchy of courts: District Diwani Adalats, Provincial Courts of Appeal, Sadar Diwani Adalat, Circuit Courts, Sadar Nizamat Adalat.

Rule of Law principle. * Police: Reorganized police. Thana system (Darogas) under District Judge. * Civil Service: 'Father of Indian Civil Service'. Increased salaries, prohibited private trade.

Merit-based (for Europeans). Systematic exclusion of Indians from higher posts. * Military: Led British forces in Third Anglo-Mysore War (1790-92) against Tipu Sultan.

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Key Distinctions: — Hastings (pragmatic, adaptive, crisis-manager) vs. Cornwallis (systematic, rule-based, anglicizer). Revenue systems (farming vs. Permanent Settlement). Judicial structure (initial vs. codified separation). Civil service (struggle vs. professionalization).

Mains Revision Notes

The tenures of Warren Hastings and Lord Cornwallis represent the foundational phase of British colonial state-building, moving from ad-hoc administration to institutionalized governance. Hastings (1772-1785) was a pragmatic consolidator, inheriting the chaos of the Dual Government.

His reforms, like abolishing Dual Government and establishing rudimentary district courts, aimed at immediate stabilization and revenue maximization (e.g., farming system). However, his methods were often controversial (Rohilla War, Nand Kumar case), leading to his impeachment.

Hastings' contribution lies in providing the initial, albeit imperfect, framework for British administration and asserting Company supremacy.

Cornwallis (1786-1793), in contrast, was a systematic reformer. His mandate was to purify and anglicize the administration. The Permanent Settlement (1793) was his landmark revenue reform, creating a loyal Zamindar class but dispossessing peasants.

The Cornwallis Code (1793) fundamentally restructured the judiciary, separating revenue and judicial functions, and establishing a hierarchical court system based on the 'rule of law'. He is revered as the 'Father of the Indian Civil Service' for professionalizing the bureaucracy through increased salaries, strict anti-corruption measures, and merit-based appointments, though critically, he systematically excluded Indians from higher posts.

His police reforms (thana system) also centralized law enforcement. Cornwallis's reforms institutionalized British rule, creating an efficient, rule-bound, but racially stratified administrative apparatus that profoundly shaped India's socio-economic and political landscape.

The comparative lens highlights Hastings' adaptive crisis management versus Cornwallis's systematic institutionalization, both crucial for the consolidation of British power and the formation of the colonial state.

Vyyuha Quick Recall

Vyyuha Quick Recall: HASTE vs CARE

HASTE (Hastings):

* Hasty/Pragmatic: Crisis management, ad-hoc decisions. * Adaptive: Used existing Indian structures (e.g., courts). * Stabilizer: Abolished Dual Government, brought order. * Tactical: Rohilla War for financial gain. * Experimental: Farming system for revenue.

CARE (Cornwallis):

* Codified: Cornwallis Code, rule of law. * Anglified: Imposed British systems, excluded Indians. * Rule-based: Systematic reforms, separation of powers. * Efficient: Professionalized civil service, police reforms.

Memory Palace Visualisation:

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Hastings' Office: — Imagine Hastings in a chaotic office, juggling papers (Dual Government abolition), a farmer arguing about revenue (farming system), and a judge (Supreme Court) glaring at him. A Rohilla warrior is outside the window, and Edmund Burke is shouting from a portrait.
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Cornwallis's Blueprint: — Picture Cornwallis with a meticulous blueprint. One section shows fixed land plots (Permanent Settlement) with Zamindars bowing. Another shows separate doors for 'Revenue' and 'Justice' (separation of powers). A line of disciplined, uniformed civil servants (ICS) are marching, but all are European. A small 'thana' building is in the corner.