Lord Warren Hastings was like the big boss for the East India Company in India back in the day, from 1772 to 1785. Imagine him as the top dog in Bengal, where he did a whole bunch of important stuff. He shook things up in how things were run and even gave the legal system a major makeover. As the first governor-general of Bengal, he was basically the one making sure the British had a good grip on the biggest province in India.

Warren Hastings

During the British Empire’s rule in India, Warren Hastings played a crucial role as Bengal’s first governor general from 1772 to 1785. Known for his remarkable energy and enthusiasm, Hastings had previously served as the British President in Murshidabad. His tenure coincided with significant events, such as the Battle of Plassey, which led to the elevation of Mir Jafar as Nawab. Additionally, the first and second Anglo-Mysore Wars took place under his leadership. Hastings’ dynamic approach left a lasting impact on the history of British India.

Warren Hastings Time Period in India

In 1758, Warren was appointed as a British Resident in Murshidabad, where he represented British interests in Bengal. The East India Company held control over Bengal during this time, and Warren, acting on behalf of Robert Clive, played a key role in guiding the new Nawab. When Mir Jafar was replaced by Mir Qasim in 1760, Warren built a strong relationship with the new Nawab. In 1761, he was re-elected to the Calcutta council.

In 1764, Warren suspected certain individuals, flying the British flag unofficially, of engaging in fraud and illegal activities. Despite bringing the issue to the Calcutta authorities, his suggestions were rejected, and he faced criticism, especially from those who financially benefited from the trade.

After resigning in December 1764 and returning to London, Warren struggled with debt but sought employment with the East India Company to resolve his financial woes. Initially rejected, he eventually secured the position of deputy leader in Madras.

Warren Hastings Tenure at Madras & Calcutta

After the First Anglo-Mysore War, Warren Hastings headed to Madras where he brought about several changes in trading methods. One significant move was getting rid of middlemen, benefiting both the East India Company and Indian labor. Hastings backed Robert Clive’s idea of consolidating the British administrations in Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras under a single authority. In 1771, he became the leader of Calcutta. Unfortunately, during his tenure, the Bengal Famine struck, claiming the lives of 10 million people.

The Regulating Act of 1773 aimed to centralize control over Madras and Bombay under Bengal’s authority. Hastings was promoted from Governor to the new position of Governor-General, but this shift actually reduced his power. Now, as Governor-General, he was just one of the five members on the Supreme Council of Bengal, a change brought about by the Act.

Warren Hastings Policies in India

Trade Regulations

Warren Hastings got rid of the Dastak system, also known as “freebees,” and took steps to control trade within India. He cut down on the number of customs buildings and introduced a standard 2.5 percent tax on goods from both India and other countries. While company employees were still allowed to engage in private business, they had to follow the legal limits.

Dual System Abolition

The East India Company chose to become the tax collector and appointed its own agents for the job, putting an end to Robert Clive’s Dual System. Under Hastings, the practice of paying the Mughal Ruler an annual salary was stopped, and the subsidies to the Nawab were cut in half to boost the Company’s financial situation.

Revenue Reforms

The company took over revenue collection by getting rid of the Dual system. They set up a Board of Revenue in Calcutta to keep an eye on the revenue collection process. In each district, an English Collector was appointed to handle the task.

Judicial Reforms of Warren Hastings or Judicial System Reorganisation

The Nawab, who used to be in charge of the legal system, didn’t always make the best decisions and often acted too quickly. The local judges, called zamindars, in different areas were pretty biased and corrupt. The whole court system was messed up with a lot of corruption. But during Warren Hastings’ time in charge, he made some changes.

Now, each district had two courts: one for civil cases, run by the Collector, and one for criminal cases, with an Indian Judge. In Calcutta, there were two higher courts—one for civil matters and one for criminal cases. The top civil court, called Sadar Diwani Adalat, had the Governor and two judges from his council in charge. For the highest criminal appeals court, Sadar Nizamat Adalat, the Governor-in-Council picked an Indian judge to lead. And to help these judges, they brought in experts in Muslim and Hindu law.

Lord Warren Hastings & Major Wars

1. First Anglo-Mysore War

• The First Anglo-Maratha War happened from 1775 to 1782, involving the Maratha Empire and the British East India Company. The British, led by Warren Hastings, went back on the deal made with Raghunathrao and the Bombay Presidency. Instead, they signed a new agreement in 1776 called the Purandar Agreement with Maratha Ministers.
• In this new deal, the British kept Salsette, but Raghunathrao got a pension. However, the British in Bombay went against the Purandar Agreement by supporting Raghunathrao. Meanwhile, the French got permission from Nana Phadnavis to build a port on the west coast. The Marathas, led by Mahadji Shinde, defeated the English in the Battle of Wadgaon near Pune during this conflict. This led to the English being forced to sign the Wadgaon Treaty in 1779, which was a bit of a humiliation for them.

2. Second Anglo Mysore War

• The second Anglo-Mysore War kicked off because the British messed up the Treaty of Madras. It all started when Maratha forces invaded Mysore in 1771, and the Brits didn’t stick to the deal. Haider Ali, the ruler of Mysore, wasn’t too thrilled about it. He accused the British of betraying his trust and got cozy with the French for military support. Haider Ali used a French territory called Mahe to get his hands on weapons and stuff.
• This newfound friendship between Haider Ali and the French made the British uneasy. So, they tried to nab Mahe, but Haider Ali wasn’t having it. To make matters more complicated, Haider Ali teamed up with the Marathas and the Nizam to take on the British. And that’s how the second Anglo-Mysore War became a thing.

Warren Hastings Impeachment

In 1788, Warren Hastings, who was facing impeachment by the British Parliament, managed to avoid conviction. While he was in Calcutta, Hastings got into trouble for his questionable conduct, which included issues related to mismanagement and personal wrongdoing. The investigation that followed delved into various aspects, sparking debates about the East India Company’s role and the expansion of the Indian empire. Surprisingly, Hastings’ trial got delayed for seven years. Ultimately, when the verdict was reached, he was declared not guilty by a significant majority.

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