Colonial Despotism and British Judicial Intervention in the Bengal Presidency, 1772-1798

Abstract

Among the various theories, which the British framed, one of them was oriental despotism. The related theories such as White Man’s Burden, Theory of Guardianship, and Civilizing Mission were primarily framed and meant to assert the legitimacy of the British rule in India by declaring how abominable were the culture and rituals of Indians; how uncivilized and barbaric were Indians having the tendency to be ruled under tyrants with an iron hand. The colonial administrators realised that for the perpetuity of the Raj, major change was required in the legal system. This paper has touched upon the issue of colonial despotism and how mercilessly the British manipulated and intervened in the existing indigenous law, judicial administration and as a result caused chaos and disorder and subsequently lost the people’s faith in the British sense of justice and fair play.