15.Lord Lytton, Lord Rippon & Socio Religious Reforms I Flashcards
Who was Lord Lytton?
Lord Lytton was an English politician who was Viceroy of India from 1876 to 1880.
What was Lord Lytton’s pen name?
Lord Lytton was essentially a writer who used to write from the pen name of Owen Meredith.
What characterized Lord Lytton’s period?
Lytton’s period was characterized by ruthlessness in both domestic and foreign affairs.
What did Lord Lytton do in response to the famine in India?
At the time, India was in the grip of a famine caused by crop failure in 1876. In response, he called a “durbar” in 1877 and declared Queen Victoria to be the “Empress of India.” His administration’s failure to respond contributed to between 6.1 million and 10.3 million deaths. It is believed that his belief in Social Darwinism contributed to his negative attitude toward Indian peasants suffering from famine.
What was free trade’s status during Lord Lytton’s period?
Because it suited the interests of an industrially advanced nation, free trade had become a passion among ruling circles in England until this time. Lancashire cotton manufacturers were envious of new cotton mills opening in Bombay and sought to demolish them. They criticized the levies imposed on goods exported to India. They referred to this as a defensive measure against the Laissez Faire. The British government during Lytton’s period passed the Act and notified the Indian government that duties would be repealed when financial conditions permitted.
What did Lord Lytton do despite India’s poor financial situation as a result of the Famine?
Despite India’s poor financial situation as a result of the Famine, Lytton abolished import duties on 29 items such as sugar, sheetings, and so on (even against the wishes of his council).
How did people feel about Lord Lytton’s policies?
People were dissatisfied with Lytton’s unpopular policies, and the native vernacular press mocked him.
What is Vernacular Press Act, 1778?
Lytton drafted the Vernacular Press Act, 1778 to curtail the wings of the Vernacular Press. By virtue of this act, District Magistrates were empowered, without prior permission from the government, to compel a printer and publisher of any kind to enter into a bond, undertaking not to publish anything that might incite discontent against the government. The magistrate was also given the authority to deposit security, which could be confiscated if the printer violated the bond. If the printer violates again, his press may be seized. The worst aspect of this Act was that it discriminated against Native Vernacular Press and loyal Anglo-Indian Press and was dubbed the Gagging Act. It was specifically aimed at Amrita Bazar Patrika, which had turned English overnight in order to avoid being caught up in the act.
What was the purpose of the Vernacular Press Act of 1878?
The Vernacular Press Act aimed to curtail the freedom of the Vernacular Press by giving District Magistrates the power to control and restrict the publication of content that could incite discontent against the government.
What did The Royal Titles Act do?
The Royal Titles Act, passed by the British Parliament, bestowed the title of Kaiser-i-Hind, or Queen Empress of India, on Queen Victoria. On January 1, 1877, a Grand Durbar was held in Delhi to announce the assumption of the Title by the people and princes of India.
Who established Famine Commission during Lord Lytton’s tenure?
In 1878, Richard Strachey established the Famine Commission which opposed provision of gratuitous assistance and advocated for able-bodied people to be given jobs at wages sufficient to maintain their health. For this he recommended construction of railway and irrigation works. (This also laid groundwork for famine policy.)
How did the Second Anglo-Afghan War conclude?
Britain won the battles, and the Treaty of Gandamak was established, which installed a more British-friendly Amir as the ruler of Afghanistan.
How were Lord Lytton’s policies received by the people in India?
Lord Lytton’s policies were highly unpopular, and the native vernacular press mocked him. The Vernacular Press Act was seen as a means to suppress dissenting voices, and his handling of the famine added to public dissatisfaction.
How did Lord Lytton deal with Afghanistan during his tenure?
During Lord Lytton’s tenure in Afghanistan, Russian and British Empires engaged in series of political maneuvers for influence in Central Asia. Afghanistan was an important player in this game because its location served as a buffer between two empires. Lord Lytton made friendly overtures to Afghanistan’s Amir Sher Ali Khan. Sher Ali Khan was thought to be pro-Russian and no effort was spared to persuade him otherwise. Sir Neville Bowles Chamberlain was sent as an envoy to Afghanistan in September 1878 but he was denied an audience. Lytton planned an invasion of Afghanistan after exhausting all diplomatic
What did Lord Ripon do regarding the Vernacular Press Act of 1878?
Lord Ripon repealed the Vernacular Press Act of 1878.
What was the Bengal Tenancy Act of 1885, and who introduced it?
The Bengal Tenancy Act of 1885 was introduced by Lord Ripon to improve the condition of peasants and regulate land tenancy in Bengal.
What is Lord Ripon known for in terms of local governance in India?
Lord Ripon is known for the Resolution of 1882, which granted Indians the right to local self-government and introduced municipal institutions under Indian control.
What was the purpose of the Hunter Commission, and who led it?
The Hunter Commission, led by William Wilson Hunter, aimed to propose educational reforms at the primary and secondary levels in India.
What did Lord Ripon achieve with the First Factory Act of 1881?
Lord Ripon’s First Factory Act of 1881 reduced working hours for local factory workers and aimed to improve their working conditions.
What did Lord Ripon’s reforms include?
His reforms included the Hunter Commission, which called for large-scale educational reforms at both the primary and secondary levels of education. He also passed the First Factory Act of 1881, which reduced the working hours of local factory workers and sought to improve their working conditions.
What was the Ilbert Bill, and who introduced it?
The Ilbert Bill was introduced by Lord Ripon in 1883 to remove racial prejudice from the Indian Penal Code and allow Indian judges and magistrates to try British offenders at the District level.
Why did the introduction of the Ilbert Bill face opposition?
Europeans living in India saw the Ilbert Bill as a humiliation, and its introduction sparked fierce opposition in both Britain and India by the British residents.
How was the Ilbert Bill amended and enacted?
The amended Ilbert Bill, enacted in 1884, allowed European and Indian District Magistrates and Sessions Judges to hear cases involving Europeans, but a defendant had the right to a jury trial with at least half of the members being European.
What impact did the passage of the Ilbert Bill have on Indian-British relations?
The passage of the Ilbert Bill deepened antagonism between the British and Indians, leading to increased nationalism and the formation of the Indian National Congress the following year.
