The East India Company and the modern phase of Maharashtra’s history

 

In India modern history is said to have started with the death of last Murghal emperor Aurangzeb in 1707. But in Maharashtra we consider  the decline of Maratha empire and the origin of the Peshwa rule as a beginning of the Modern Maharashtra .Today in this article we will look into the developments that are crucial while studying the modern historical background of Maharashtra.

Peshwas and the administrative changes

Shivaji era and the Peshwa era are very crucial while studying the modern Maharashtra’s history. This two era are very rich in Political, Administrative and cultural point of view. But in history the Peshwas are known for their greedy nature. We can see that the fourfold division of the Indian society became stronger during the peshwa rule. Dalits and the shudra have to live under constant dominance of the upper castes. Peshwa which were Brahmin became enemy of Marathas which considered themselves as true ruler of the land.

The treaty of Vasai

It is important to know about the Treaty of Vasai while studying the modern history of Maharashtra. This treaty happened on 31^st December 1802 between the Peshwa Bajirao 2 and the British lawyer Colonel Claws .According to this treaty the Peshwa Bajirao had accepted the British forces from his protection .So under this treaty the Peshwa Bajirao had came directly under the rule of British. This treaty had not only affected the Maharashtra but also changed the nature of relation between the local rulers in India and the officials of the East India Company.

In the initial days the relation between the Peshwa Bajirao and the British were good enough .But after that the British started interfering in the internal matters of the Peshwa. Hence this increases this tension between the two. Bajirao thought that British will use Chatrapati of Satara against him that’s why he had put the Chatrapati of Satara Pratapsingh under house arrest at his fort in Vasova on 9^th November 1817.

But Elphistone was clever. He knew that as it was not so easy to win Maratha . Therefore He declared that he will free the Chatrapati of Satara from the house arrest and will re-establish the Maratha rule on the thorn of Satara .And hence he established Pratapsingh on the throne of Satara.

But Elphistone had a different motive behind making Satara as centre of political activity. He knew that as there is not any descendent to the throne of Satara, it will be easier for the British to occupy it after the death of the last ruler.

Bajirao was worried about the increasing interference of the British in the internal matters of the state .In 1811 Mount Stuart Elphinstine came to pune as   resident and started interfering in the internal matters of the Peshwa’s administration .Peshwa came to know that his rule is now only of nominal nature and he decided to fight to regain his lost power. He starting opposing with the help of his small army but that is of no use. 

The third anglo-maratha war took place between Peshwa Bajirao two and the British in 1817-1818. It is said that British took the help of local Mahar warrior group to fight against the Maratha army. Today we can found the the memorial of those brave Mahar warrior on the outskirt of Pune at Koregaon- Bhima. Every year on 1^st January lakhs of people from the Dalit community gathered at the memorial to pay homage to the brave martyrs who sacrificed their life during the war against the Peshwa . Dr .B. R. Ambedkar gave visit to this memorial on   and saltute the brave soldiers .

The third Anglo-Maratha war paved the way for the British rule in Maharashtra.

Company’s activity in Maharashtra

    Initially East India Company came to India as a trading company but it took the advantage of the political instability  in India and started taking control of some area. In Maharashtra also it increases its political influence. Not whole of the Maharashtra was under the direct rule of Maharashtra. As the today’s Maharashtra was divided into many provinces and princely states . Some part of today’s Maharashtra came under the Nizams of Hyderabad , some under the central provinces and the Bombay presidency .

The East India Company got dissolved in 1857 and the British crown took the direct control of the administration of India. British during their ruler defeated the many Maratha empires likes Bhosale of Nagpur , Shinde ,Holkars and the Gaikwad . All these region came under the direct control of British. The British used various policies to bring the princely states under their control like Doctrine of lapse, Policy of Ring Fence and the subsidiary alliance . All the major ruler were brought under the direct of indirect British control.

In Maharashtra the large portion was under the direct rule of the British government. Bombay presidency had a governor who used to be the representative of the Governor General of India.

Elphistone and his works

Mouth Stuart Elphistone was the first Governor of the Bombay presidency. Before that he was serving as resident in Pune. Due the tactics he had shown in the third Anglo-Maratha war  he was appointed as a first Governor of the Bombay presidency. He was on this post between 1819 to 1827.

 Elphinstone firstly tried to improve the condition of the army. The Maratha army had lost its importance after the third Anglo-Maratha was. Elphinstone thought that if they reamin in this condition for long time they will go into rebellion against the British. Hence he decided to recruit them in the British army . British took control of the garrisons .Only British soldiers were stationed there and no sepoys were allowed.

As Brahmins were dominant in the administrative posts during Pehswa rule, Elphinstone could not ignore their influence . Hence when he visited Pune , he invited around 150 Brahmins and appeased them with prizes and pensions .Brahmin class became satisfied with the Elphinstone.

Elphinstone introduced new judicial system .The old Justice system ws based upon the ancient Hindu scripture which contains laws according to the castes. He modified some rules of the Hindu system and introduced his own Judicial system.

He introduced English education system in Maharashtra .He is also known as father of Education system. He founded Sanksrit school in Pune .Elphinstone’s liberal attitude has helped Maharashtra to enter into the modern world of English language.

Elphistone breathed his last on 20^th 1859 at London. He has contributed a lot to the development of the modern Maharashtra not only in the administrative but also educational sphere.