British Paramountcy

British Paramountcy In the aftermath of the Battle of Plassey (Palashi) ( ), when the Company embarked on its career of expansion, it established the system of dual government. Under this system, everything was sought to be done by the Company’s servants in the name of some powerless and dependent prince. In theory the Company was only the diwan (the collector of revenue), but in practice it exercised full authority. This authority was asserted by the refusal to continue the payment of annual tribute to the Mughal emperor Shah Alam II promised by Clive. Cornwallis even stopped affirming obedience in letters to the emperor. Wellesley carried matters further with his objective of establishing British predominance through his Subsidiary Alliance System. Wellesley made subsidiary alliances with the three of the major States of India: Hyderabad, Poona and Mysore. Hastings (Moira) who became Governor General in ordered the removal of the phrase denoting the imperial supremacy from his seal. He refused to meet Emperor Akbar II, unless he waived all authority over the Company’s possessions. But Hastings laid down a policy XI History - Lesson - - Effects of British Rule and history of India, in addition to their liberal education in England. With this object, the College of Fort William was founded at Calcutta in . A three year course of study was provided for the Company’s civil servants. The college was staffed by European professors and eighty Indian pundits. This became the Oriental School for Bengal civilians. In the East India College was established in England. In Madras, the College of Fort St George was set up by F.W. Ellis in on the lines of College of Fort William. It was here that the theory that the South Indian languages belonged to a separate family of languages independant of Sanskrit was formulated.