Speech on East India Bill - Part C

  • How does Burke criticize Hasting and his Lieutenants in his "Speech on the East India Bill"? [NU. 2000, 2013, 2015, 2018, 2020]

/Describe Burke's critique of Hastings' in his Speech on the East India Bill.

Warren Hastings (1732-1818) was the first British Governor-General of India, who dominated Indian affairs from 1772 to 1785. Burke in his Speech on the East India Bill criticizes Hastings and his lieutenants bitterly. Hastings is the root of all evils in India. He became the symbol of despotism, tyranny, atrocity and corruption.


One of the major concerns of Burke’s speech is the criticism of Warren Hastings. Hastings stands for what is bad, destructive. He was the main executor in Company’s maladministration in India. He was not a born enemy of Burke. But Burke went against him because of the violation of natural justice and laws of England. He was annoyed with Hastings as he observed Hastings as the chief of all the East India Company’s properties. He has considered Hastings as a representative of anarchic power.


Hastings was a man devoid of sympathy and humanity. He didn’t do justice to any of the Indians. He sold Shah Alam, the de facto Emperor of India and the whole nation of the Afghan Rohillas for money. In 1774 Hafiz Rhamet Khan, a leading Rohilla chief, was slain and his head was cut off and delivered for money to a barbarian. His wife and children were seen begging for rice through the English camp. In Burke's term what Hastings has done is "Crimes so convenient, crimes so politic, crimes so necessary, crimes so alleviating of distress."


Hastings was a money monger. His lust for money is depicted in his treatment of the Begums of Oudh. Once the Company accused them in order to extract money from them. For money, their jewels and other personal properties were taken and were sold at auction. Thus, the Begums of Oudh were victims of the Company under the governance of Warren Hastings. 


Hastings is fond of breaching treaties. He is not very honest in his dealings. The Company has broken the treaty with the Mogul. They also broke their treaties with Nizam and with Hyder Ali. They had also broken so many treaties with the Marathas.


The natives of India were ruined by the hypocrisy of the Company. The first women in Bengal such as the Rani of Rajeshahi, the Rani of Burdwan, and the Rani of Amboa trusted the Company but they were ruined by the hypocrisy of the Company.


Thus, the natives of India fall victim to the maladministration of Hastings. In the Speech on the East India Bill Hasting has been depicted as a predatory animal.