Modern India

Lord Ripon, the symbol of Liberalism

There was a strong reaction to Lord Lytton’s reactionary policies in England. Thus, in the elections of 1880, Disraeli’s Conservative Party defeated and the government was of the liberal party and Gladstone became the Prime Minister.

It was necessary for Gladstone to appoint a person in the post of the governor- general in India who is generous and peaceable, could get the sympathy of the Indian public, and to build trust in people towards British administration in India.

Therefore, Gladstone appointed Lord Ripon (1880-1884) the Governor-General of India, who had served as the Secretary of India. Ripon took charge on June 8, 1880. As governors-general in India Ripon was most popular than any governor- general before and after.

It was compulsory to make changes in British policy, by the appointment of Ripon. Ripon not only tried to get the support of Indian kings, landlords, and landowners but also tried to make new educated classes loyal to the British Empire.

Ripon knew that soon, the newly educated section in India is going to play an important role and therefore for the protection of the empire, this class cannot be neglected. Ripon had a firm belief that the empire can be strengthened by associating this class with the administration. The newly educated class was also willing to cooperate with the British because this class believed in fairness and impartiality of the British. Ripon attracted this class to the empire.

Works, done by Ripon

Establishment of local self-government

In 1882, Ripon proposed to establish local self-government. In which it was emphasized that in the local people, many qualified people are far from the administration’s work, hence the establishment of local self-government is necessary for bringing them into administration.

Financial decentralization

Lord Mayo established the policy of financial decentralization. Lord Ripon developed this policy and gave it stability. Ripon tried to make local institutions self-reliant in the economic sector. In 1882, with the help of his finance secretary Major Wering, Ripon divided the source of income into three parts by a proposal:

  • Imperial– Salt, Excise, Coast, and Laudanum tax were kept in it.
  • Provincial – Works related to education and public welfare were kept in this.
  • Divided Post– Land tax, forest, and stamp were kept in it.

Ripon also reduced income tax and salt-tax. Before Ripon came, Lord Mayo had established the Agricultural Department, but Lord Ripon had ended it. Ripon re-established the Agriculture Department by recognizing the importance of it.

He prepared the Bengal Tenancy Act, for the purpose of protecting the farmers from the landlords, but the Home Government was a supporter of the interests of landlords, so this Act could not be passed in its original form.

Education-related reform

Ripon, after experiencing the need for improvement in education, decided to set up an Education Commission and appointed Sir William Hunter as the Chairman of the Education Commission. Including the chairman, there were 21 members of which 8 were Indians, in this commission. This commission was asked to evaluate the work of Woods Dispatch of 1857 and give its suggestions. The Hunter Commission presented its detailed report in 1883.

Termination of the Varnacular Press Act

Efforts to end the Reactionary work

Lord Lytton passed the Arms Act, which was the most reactionary. Ripon wanted the farmers and poor people who had to protect themselves from wild animals should be given the right to possess arms without a license. Officers can posses arms with license. Ripon passed a proposal in this regard in 1882 and sent it for the acceptance of the Secretary of India.

Albert Bill Controversy

Ripon was a symbol of liberalism. Thus, in 1882, as per the instructions of the Secretary of India, he made arrangements to recruit Indians who studied in Engineering College, Roodhki, for government service. He decided to give equal pay to the judges of the Calcutta High Court and when Garth the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court, was on leave, he appointed Ramesh Chandra Mitter as
the Chief Justice. These actions of Ripon created dissatisfaction with the British who lived in India. This dissent was exploded by Albert Bill.

Economic recovery

Ripon supported British interests in economic reforms. He ended the import tax on the clothes made in England imported in India and made India a free trade zone. Because at the same time, Ripon had achieved the goodwill of the Indians by terminating the Vernacular Press Act, so there was no special protest against it in India.

In fact, there were no such people in India, who can understand that by ending the import tax, India’s economic interests have been abandoned for the interests of the Manchester. Ripon himself accepted this fact.

Reference : https://www.indiaolddays.com/

Related Articles

error: Content is protected !!