Dawning of the Raj

Rating:
Summary: Very frustrating
Review: Given the title, I was hoping to learn about the Warren Hastings's role in establishing the British Raj. Unfortunately, I was misled. Hastings, according to the author, spent 36 years in India, 13 of which as Governor-General of Bengal. Quite how Hastings rose to these heights and what he did whilst he was in power remain much of a mystery to me. This is because the book lacks a true focus as to its subject matter, and because of the author's seeming inability to grapple with the historically important issues for both India and Britain.

For much of the book, Hastings either assumes a secondary role, or completely disappears from the scene. I have already mentioned that Hastings's rise in the East India Company is not analysed - what were his abilities, and why were they so suitable for advancement in the Company? The reader gets little indication of this beyond Hastings's willingness to learn the local languages and his interest in Indian culture. Later, when the story arrives at Hastings's trial, a whole perambulatory chapter is devoted to the life of Fanny Burney. Indeed, the author relies heavily on Burney's account of the trial. As a result, what the reader gets is akin to an English drawing-room drama rather than a deep analysis of the issues. Even if Burney had been the only available source, was she reliable? On the one hand, she stated "my first knowledge of [Hastings] was almost immediately upon his coming from India" admitting she was ignorant of the issues, yet on the other hand she opined "I cannot believe Mr Hastings guilty; I feel in myself a strong internal evidence [!] of his innocence."

The funadamental flaw in the book, however, is the lack of analysis of Hastings's rule in India, beyond the squabbles within the East India Company's Council in Calcutta (surely the differences of opinion were based upon more fundamental issues than personal antipathy?). As an aside, when describing the duel with Francis, the author states that Hastings came to the view that the only way out of the impasse was to kill Francis - this is put in the narrative as a throw-away line. Quite extraordinary!

The author touches upon what may have been issues deserving closer inspection: for example, when the East India Company (via Clive) was granted the "diwani" (tax raising powers) in Bengal, the role of the Company changed. This appears to have been crucial - but what was the effect on the Company and the local people? There was a need for a socio-economic analysis at this point. Yet, all the author does is absolve the Company from responsibility for the Bengal famine. However, if the granting of the diwani conferred governmental responsibilities upon the Company (this is the author's opinion) then it is not enough to absolve the Company from all responsibility for the famine - the causes may have been beyond its control, yet was alleviation also outside its remit? If so, why?

What were the main issues of principle in the trial? Were not Edmund Burke et al concerned with the connection between governance and the responsibility of governments towards the governed? Given the problems with the American Colonies, it would not be surprising if this did not feature. If other issues were at stake, what were they? Was the real British position as Lord Thurlow stated in his defence of Hastings that "it was the duty of Hastings to preserve the empire" by the best means he could find? Was not that the nub of the problem as far as Burke was concerned - especially important given the fact that later on the Wellesleys went far beyond Hastings's practices (according to the author), and that direct rule was not in fact imposed until 1858?

Would events in India have been ignored had the Company not been so important to the British economy, or had it succeeded in maintaining its dividend payments? One thinks of the economic success of Hong Kong and the fact that we only discovered that democracy was a good idea for that colony shortly before the lease ran out. Was the trial a mere exercise in salving British consciences? Was it indicative of an unease with Empire which found greater expression in the nineteenth century through Gladstone?

All such issues were missed.

Rating:
Summary: Historical treatise that reads as smoothly as a great novel.
Review: The life and trials of Warren Hastings are followed in this story of early British rule in India, recommended for students of India history and for those researching early legal issues. Dawning of the Raj reads like a novel at times but is packed with facts about the trials of Warren Hastings, following the man's life and achievements.

Rating:
Summary: Historical treatise that reads as smoothly as a great novel.
Review: The life and trials of Warren Hastings are followed in this story of early British rule in India, recommended for students of India history and for those researching early legal issues. Dawning of the Raj reads like a novel at times but is packed with facts about the trials of Warren Hastings, following the man's life and achievements.