Lord Hastings

 

Once upon a time in 1813, when the British Empire was already neck-deep in Indian politics, they decided to hire someone who could "take it to the next level."

Enter: Lord Francis Rawdon-Hastings — a man with more titles than a royal wedding announcement.

Officially: Governor-General of India (1813–1823)
Unofficially: CEO of Expansion Inc.

 Chapter 1: The Charter Act of 1813 – The Empire Gets a Policy Update

When Hastings took office, the Charter Act of 1813 had just rolled in.

This Act:

  • Ended the East India Company’s trade monopoly in India (except for tea and China — because British people NEED their tea),

  • Allowed Christian missionaries to come in and start conversions (cue awkward temple-to-church transitions),

  • And emphasized education, because even colonialism needs a syllabus.

Hastings saw this and thought: "Okay, time to turn British control from 60% to 110%."

 Chapter 2: The Anglo-Nepalese War – It’s Gurkha Time

The British wanted to expand into the Himalayan foothills (because of course they did). The Gurkhas of Nepal said, “Not today, colonizer.”

What followed was the Anglo-Nepalese War (1814–1816).

It was:

  • Brutal,

  • Cold (literally — it was the Himalayas),

  • And the British weren’t used to mountains or Gurkha knives.

Eventually, peace came with the Treaty of Sugauli (1816):

  • Nepal lost some territory,

  • The British gained new frontiers,

  • And the Gurkhas impressed everyone so much they were hired by the British. (“Nice sword, want a job?”)

 Chapter 3: The Maratha Mic Drop – The Third Anglo-Maratha War

Now for the main act — the Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817–1818).

By this point, the Marathas were the last big thing standing between Britain and total Indian domination. Hastings had had enough.

He launched a full-on military blitz, defeating:

  • The Peshwa Baji Rao II (who was then pensioned off, probably with bad vibes),

  • The Bhonsles of Nagpur,

  • And the Holkars of Indore.

The result?
The Maratha Confederacy collapsed like a badly built sandcastle.

Britain was now the unchallenged superpower in India, and Lord Hastings casually sipped his tea while filling in blank spots on the map.

 Chapter 4: The Secretly Smart Stuff

Lord Hastings wasn’t just about battles. He:

  • Reformed the police (because apparently chasing rebels in flip-flops wasn’t working),

  • Boosted infrastructure and education,

  • Supported Indian vernacular literature (yes, he was THAT colonial guy who appreciated poetry and military campaigns),

  • And expanded the Company’s political and diplomatic networks, like a 19th-century LinkedIn power user.

Chapter 5: The Exit — Politics, Paranoia, and a Petty Resignation

Despite his success, people back in London thought he was getting a bit too successful. Accusations of extravagance and political enemies eventually piled up.

So in 1823, Hastings was like, “Fine, you don’t like me? I’ll just leave and go be amazing somewhere else.”

(He later became Governor of Malta, because apparently retiring peacefully was too boring.)

Why CLAT Students Should Care:

  • Governor-General of India (1813–1823)

  • Oversaw the Charter Act of 1813

  • Fought the Anglo-Nepalese War → Treaty of Sugauli (1816)

  • Led the Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817–18) → End of Maratha power

  • Strengthened British paramountcy in India

  • Reformed administration, police, and supported Indian literature

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