The policy of Paramountcy

Policy of Paramountcy means supremacy of British authority over Indian affairs.The policy emphasises Governor General’s right to intervene in the internal affairs of the Indian princely states, and to annex them if required. Lord Hastings instituted the policy of Paramountcy who was Governor-General of India between 1813 to 1823. 

Concept of Paramountcy

• A new policy of “paramountcy” was instituted under Lord Hastings (Governor-General from 1813 to 1823).
• The company maintained that because its power was preeminent or superior, it could annex or threaten to annex any Indian state.
• This was considered as the reference groundwork for other later British policies.
• The East India Company maintained that its powers were stronger than those of Indian states and that its powers were supreme or paramount, according to the Policy of Paramountcy.
• Because of Russian invasion fears, the British shifted control in the northwest during these decades.
• Between 1838 and 1842, the British fought a long war with Afghanistan, establishing an indirect company administration in the country.
• Sindh was conquered, Punjab was annexed after two prolonged wars in 1849 ruled by Maharaja Ranjit Singh

Evolution of British Paramountcy

The evolution of British paramountcy occurred through various means such as the policy of ring-fencing, subordinate isolation, and subordinate union. The British developed the concept of paramountcy through a variety of tactics, including direct annexation via wars and a subsidiary alliance structure via treaties. Over the course of two centuries, the British aristocracy has gone through three distinct stages:

First Phase

• Between 1757 and 1813, the policy of ‘Ring Fence’ or non-interference was implemented.
• During this time, they did their best to stay within the confines of a ring-fence. In other words, they attempted to strengthen their position in a specific region by refraining from interfering in other people’s concerns.
• They pursued this policy mostly due to the facts on the ground. Despite being one of India’s most formidable forces at the time, the British were not yet powerful enough to take on all or even part of the Indian powers at the same time.
• During this initial phase, however, the English began to emerge as the dominant power in India.

Second Phase

• The policy of subordinate isolation was implemented during the second 45-year period (1813-1858).
• During this time, they ascended to the position of supreme power, claiming dominance over all native states. They did not, however, claim Princely India as part of their Indian dominion.
• Furthermore, as the need for British Imperialism grew, there was a steady move from subordinate collaboration to annexation policy during this time. The policy of subordinate cooperation gave way to the policy of annexation during this 21-year period (1834-58).
• This approach, initially announced by the Court of Directors in 1834 and again repeated by them in 1841, was followed by all Governor Generals from William Bentinck to Dalhousie.
• Despite the fact that there were multiple precedents prior to Dalhousie, he pursued annexation with vigour and zeal, even establishing ideas such as the doctrine of lapse and maxim of the benefit of the governed (Maladministration of government).
• He seized Punjab through war during his eight-year reign. He also conquered ten states, starting with Satara and ending with Nagpur, using the doctrine of lapse.
• He used the excuse of maladministration or misgovernance in the case of Awadh, which was the British’s last annexation in India.

Third Phase

• Following the insurrection of 1857, the British began the policy of sub-ordinate unity, which lasted until 1947.
• Following the 1857 insurrection, the British decided to abandon their annexation policy in favour of protecting the original states.
• During the revolt, the vast majority of native rulers remained loyal to the British and even assisted them in defeating the revolt.
• As a result of the revolt, the British learned an essential lesson: keeping the original state would be far more beneficial to them than annexing these states.
• The British will now justify their new approach by claiming that they now have an empire in India that includes not only British India but also princely India.
• As a result , annexing something that already belongs to them is pointless. The fact that there was no more useful land to be annexed in India was also a major factor in the refusal to add any more territory.
• The Queen’s proclamation of 1858 outlined this new policy of subordinate unity, which was fully adopted by the Government of India Act, 1858.
• The local rulers were now offered eternal life in writing in exchange for their loyalty and effectiveness. Due to the failure of naturally born male successors, 160 of the 562 native monarchs of the period were given special permission to go for adoption.
• Furthermore, the English showed their hesitation to conquer any native state in the notable examples of Baroda (1874) and Manipur (1881).
• However, they intervened in both situations to demonstrate that they would not tolerate either disloyalty or inefficiency.