Lord Hastings (1813-23)

War with Nepal (1814-16)

• Lord Hastings (or Earl of Moira) was appointed as Governor-General in Bengal in 1813 and held the office for a decade.
• He continued the work initiated by Warren Hastings and Lord Wellesley.
• Hastings initially aimed to follow a policy of non-intervention in India’s affairs but realized it was no longer viable due to emerging threats from multiple quarters.
• The first major issue Hastings faced was Nepal, inhabited by the Gorkhas, a group of hardy warriors who had steadily expanded their control over the hilly regions from Bhutan in the east to the Sutlej in the west.
• The Gorkhas aimed to extend their territory into the plains, which would encroach upon English East India Company territory.
• Previous non-intervention policies encouraged the Gorkhas to attack and occupy British villages along the frontier, culminating in their occupation of Butwal and Sheoraj.
• When the Marathas refused to restore the territories, war was declared in 1814.
• Nepal’s geography made it a difficult country for military operations, and while elaborate plans were made, many were poorly executed.
• The Gorkhas’ fighting abilities made them formidable opponents, and General Gillespie, who had fought heroically in Java, was defeated and killed by them. Three other generals were also defeated.
• The tide turned under the command of Ochterloney, leading to the capture of Almora and the eventual defeat and surrender of the Gorkha leader, Amar Singh.
• Following their defeat, the Treaty of Sagauli was signed in March 1816.
• Under the treaty, the Gorkhas gave up most of their claims in the Tarai region and surrendered the provinces of Garhwal and Kumaon, giving the British control of Simla.
• The north-western frontier of the English Company was extended to the mountains, and the Gorkhas were required to accept a resident in their capital.
• The importance of the Treaty of Sagauli is immense as it established a long-lasting friendship between India and Nepal.
• The treaty led to Gorkha soldiers being welcomed into the Indian army and employed in various other jobs by the Indians, marking the beginning of enduring relations between the two countries.