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Robert Clive most efficient but corrupt Gov. of Bengal. en.wikipedia.org
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One
ought to read Robert Clive's speech quoted below to understand the
prosperity of Bengal in1700s.
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| British East India co's corrupt officials. www.slideshare.net |
Robert
Clive himself amassed a vast fortune in India. Arrived in Madras
penniless (now Chennai) from England in 1743 at the
age of 18
and started as a junior clerk with the East India Company, when he
returned to England in 1767 his Indian fortune was worth £401,102.00
– a whooping sum in those days. Interestingly,
when he
was
appointed
as
the Governor of Bengal in 1764,
the authorities in England asked him
to put an
end to
corruption in company
affairs
in India which became a serious issue
back home.
But, what he did was just opposite
and in
pursuit of
his official duty, he became the most
corrupt man in British history. After acquittal from
corruption charges, he
committed suicide in 1774.
Clive's
House of Commons Speech, 1772:
''….
Indostan (India)was always an absolute despotic government. The
inhabitants, especially of Bengal, in inferior stations, are servile,
mean, submissive, and humble. In superior stations, they are
luxurious, effeminate, tyrannical, treacherous, venal, cruel. The
country of Bengal is called, by way of distinction, the paradise of
the earth. It not only abounds with the necessaries of life to such a
degree, as to furnish a great part of India with its superfluity, but
it abounds in very curious and valuable manufactures, sufficient not
only for its own use, but for the use of the whole globe. The silver
of the west and the gold of the east have for many years been pouring
into that country, and goods only have been sent out in return. This
has added to the luxury and extravagance of Bengal.''
…....
the custom of that country, for an inferior never to come into the
presence of a superior without a present. It begins at the Nabob
(Nawob),
and ends at the lowest man that has an inferior. The Nabob
has told me, that the small presents he received amounted to 300,000
1.
a year; and I can believe him; because I know that I might have
received
as much during my last government. The Company's
servants have
ever been accustomed to receive presents.
Even ….. the governor and others used
to receive presents; and I will take upon me to assert, that there
has not been an officer commanding his Majesty's fleet; nor an
officer commanding his Majesty's army; not a governor, not a member
of council,........ have connection with the country government, who
has not received presents. With regard to Bengal, there they know in
abundance indeed. Let the House figure to itself a country consisting
of 15 millions of inhabitants, a
revenue
of four millions sterling, and a trade in proportion........Those
agents, and the
Banyans'
(Bhaniahs
- South Asian merchants
and commission agents)
never desist, till ….... The advantages arising from the Company's
service are now very generally known; and the great object of every
man is to get his son appointed a writer to Bengal; which is usually
at the age of 16...........
Let
us now take a view of one of these writers arrived in Bengal, and not
worth a groat. As soon as he lands, a banyan, worth perhaps 100,000
1.
desires he may have the honour of serving this young gentleman, at
4s. 6d. per month. The Company has provided chambers for him, but
they are not good enough;-the banyan finds better. The young man
takes a walk about the town, he observes that other writers, arrived
only a year before him, live in splendid apartments or have houses of
their own, ride upon fine prancing Arabian horses, ….....
When he returns he tells the banyan what he has observed. The banyan
assures him he may soon arrive at the same good fortune; he furnishes
him with money; he is then at his mercy; ….....he is in a state of
dependence under the banyan, who commits acts of violence and
oppression, as his interest prompts him to, under the pretended
sanction and authority of the Company's servant. Hence, Sir, arises
the clamor
against the English gentlemen in India. But look at them in a retired
situation, when returned to England, when they are no longer Nabobs
and sovereigns of the east......''
This speech (given 4 years before America's independence)
will give us some picture about India's past affluence and
healthy economy. During the British rule the economic condition was, unfortunately, topsy-turvy.
Source: English Historical Documents, via Internet History Sourcebook
