THREEMUCH

Anononsenseblogforsensiblereaders

AllGovernorGeneralsandViceroysofIndiaat
oneplace.
October13,2014October13,2014
SaiprasadBejgam
HistoryofIndia
Britishrule,Colonization,ContributionsofGovernorGenerals,GovernorGeneralsand
ViceroysofIndia,GovernorGeneralsofIndia,SummaryofGovernorGenerals,Viceroysof
India
HereisthelistofGovernorGeneralsandViceroysofIndia.Therewasaquestionthat
appearedinMains2013,ononeofthese,infacttherehavebeenfrequentquestionsonthem.So
Ifeltitisapttohavetheircontributionatoneplaceandwecouldaswelldoalinkagewiththe
eventsthattookplaceintheirtenure.Ifeel,thiswillgiveusaholisticviewofourhistoryprior
toIndependence.
Beforewebeginwiththelist,Iamsure,whenyouheardoftheirnames,youwouldhavebeen
surprisedastowhyweneedtocallthemLord,Siretc.Unfortunately,weneedtomentiontheir
namesastheyhavebeenthetitles,theyareranksinBritishPeeragesorthetitlesofBritish
Nobilityandweareoughttobepoliticallycorrectwhileaddressingthemintheanswerorin
yourinterview.
SobeforeIputupthetimeline,hereisasmallbackgroundontheseranks.
IntheBritishNobility,theorderofthepeeragesisgivebelow.
Duke:ThehighestrankandtitleintheBritishpeerage.
Marquess/Marquis:ThesecondorderoftheBritishpeerage,inranknexttothatofthe
Duke.
Earl:AlsocalledasCount,nowthethirddegreeofrankanddignityintheBritishpeerage.
Viscount:ThefourthdegreeofrankanddignityintheBritishpeerage.
Baron:ThelowestrankintheBritishpeerage.
Baronet:Ahereditaryrank,lowerthanthepeerage.
Knights:Lowestrank,orsometimesconsideredatparwithBaronet,butisnotheritagebut
awardedfortheServicetoCrown.

TheranksusuallywhicharehereditaryareprefixedwithLordsandthoseofwhoaregiventhe

TheranksusuallywhicharehereditaryareprefixedwithLordsandthoseofwhoaregiventhe
prefixSir,areusuallyawardedfortheirservicetothecrownorfortheirextraordinary
contributioninoneortheotherfields.TheLordsorSirscanbeofanyoftheaboveranksin
Britishpeeragenottobeconfusedwiththetitles.
<disclaimer:InthebelowlistIhaveexcludedsomenameswhicharetotallyinsignificantthoseofwho
servedonlyfor1yearorless,theboldones,Iconsiderthemtobeimportant.>
Thisisquitealongandcontentheavypost.Youcanfollowtheblog,andsendameaPDF
request,fillouttheformgivenbelowforyourconvenientofflinereading,ifnotyoucanread
hereonthebloganytime.
1.WarrenHastings17741785
WarrenHastings(17721785)
Administrative
reforms

Andofthedualsystems;shiftingoftreasuryfroomMurshidabadto
Calcutta.

Revenue
reforms

CollectionofrevenuewastakenoverbytheCompany.

Judicial
reforms

Zamindarsweregivenjudicialpowers;establishmentofcivilandcriminal
courtsineachdistrict.

Socialreforms

In1781,hefoundedtheCalcuttaMadrasaforpromotionofIslamicstudies.
ThiswasthefirsteducationalinstituteestablishedbytheCompanys
government.

Impeachment

WarrenHastingstenderedhisresignationinprotestagainstthePitsIndia
Billin1785.HewasaccusedfortheRohillabar;NandKumarsmurder;
thecaseoftheChetSinghandacceptingofbribes.Hisimpeachmentlasted
forsevenyearsfrom1788to1795.Hewasexoneratedforallthecharges.

2.TheEarlCornwallis17861793
LordCornwallis(17861793)
Permanent
settlement
ofBengal

Thelandwasgivenonpermanentbasistothezamindarin1793,insteadof
givingittothehighestbiddereachyear.Thissystemgotprosperitytoboththe
Companyandzamindarhadthecostofthecommonpeasantry.

Judicial
reforms

Reorganisationoftherevenuecourts;thereorganisationofthecriminal
courts;deprivingtheCollectorsofthejudicialfunctions;compilationofthe
CornwallisCodebasedonprincipleofSeparationofPowersin1793

Police
reforms

Deprivingzamindaroftheirpolicefunctions;establishmentofthe
thanas.PresentpolicesysteminIndiaislargelyderivedfromthesereforms,
SuperintendentofPolicewasmadeheadofdistrict.

3.SirJohnShore17931798:Followedapolicyofnonintervention.
4.TheEarlofMornington17981805:HewasalsoknownasLordWellesley,sothisoneisa
trickhere,youmaynotethispoint.
HeisthefamousforintroducingSubsidiaryAlliancesystem.Heopenedcollegetotrainthe

HeisthefamousforintroducingSubsidiaryAlliancesystem.Heopenedcollegetotrainthe
CompanysservantsinCalcutta.ThatiswhyheisalsocalledtheFatheroftheCivilServices
inIndia.
5.SirGeorgeHilaroBarlow18051807:
AnimportanteventwastheMutinyofVellorein1806inwhichtheIndiansoldierskilled
manyEnglishofficials.
6.TheLordMinto18071813
HisrulefamousforatreatywithShahofPersiaandTreatyofAmritsar(1809)withRanjit
Singh.
7.TheEarlofMoira18131823
AlsocalledMarquessofHastings.
HewasthefirsttoappointIndianstothehighestOpsofresponsibility.Thefirstvernacular
newspaperSamacharPatrikabegintobepublishedduringhistime.
8.TheLordAmherst18231828
thefirstAngloBurmeseWar(182426)
mutinyofBarrackpur(1824).
9.LordWilliamBentinck18281835
LordWilliamBentinck(18281833)
Administrative
andjudicial
reforms

Abolitionofprovincialcourtsofappealandcircuit,powerofthe
magistrateincreased,appointmentofIndiansasjudges,replacementof
PersianbyvernacularsandScottlanguage,introductionoftheresiduary
system,SardarDiwaniAdalatatAllahabad;CodificationofLaws.

Educational
reforms

EnglishacceptedasthemediumofinstructionafterthefamousMacaulays
recommendation;MedicalcollegesatCalcuttain1835.

Socialreforms

Abolitionofsatiin1829.SuppressionofthuggeeincentralIndia;banningof
femaleinfanticide;banningofhumansacrifice;reformintheHinduLaw
ofInheritance.

10.TheLordAuckland18361842:
outbreakoffirstAfghanwar
TripartiteTreatyamongtheEnglish,RanjitSinghandShahShujaofAfghanistan.
11.TheLordEllenborough18421844
AnnexationofSindh
12.SirHenryHardinge18441848
FirstSikhWar.(184648)
13.TheEarlofDalhousie18481856

13.TheEarlofDalhousie18481856

LordDalhousie(18481856)
AboutLord
Dalhousie

HewastheyoungesttoholdtheofficeoftheGovernorGeneral.Heis
famousforthetheDoctrineofLapse.ThesecondBurnesewar,1852,took
placebecauseofLordDalhousiesdesiretoexcludeallEuropeanpower
fromBurma.ThesecondAngloSikhWaranddidSikhpowerandPunjab
wasannexed.

Administrative
reforms

SeparateLieutenantGovernorappointedforBengal;Shimlamadethe
summercapital.

Military
reforms

ArilleryHeadquartersmovedfromCalcuttatoMerrut;Army
headquartersshiftedtoShimla;formationofGurkharegiments.

Railways

FirstrailwaylinewasledfromBombaytoThana,in1853.

Postand
Telegraph

ReformingthedefectsofthePostalSystemandlinkingalltheimportant
townsTelegraphically.

Education

ServedCharlesWoodsdespatchonEducation(1854)recommendedthe
settingupofuniversitiesinCalcutta,BombayandMadras.In1853,
competitiveexaminationfortheIndianCivilServicesbegan.

14.TheViscountCanning18561858asGovernorGeneralofIndia
LordCanning(18561858)
AnnexationofAvadh;enactmentofHinduWidowRemarriageBill,1857;establishmentof
universitiesatCalcutta,MadrasandBombay;therevoltof1857whoweresomeofthe
importanteventsduringhispostofGovernorGeneral.
15.TheViscountCanning18581862asaViceroyofIndia
FollowingtheQueensrecommendationin1858,transferringtheGovernmentfromthe
companytotheBritishCrown,LordCanningwasmadethefirstViceroyofIndia.Important
developmentsinhisregimewereasfollows:
Financial
reforms

Hey5%incometaxwasimposedonallarelinksbeyondRs.500ayear.

Judicial
reforms

Penalcodewaspreparedbyincorporatingthesuggestionsearliermadebythe
FirstLawCommissionheadedbyLordMacaulay.Highcourtsweresetupat
Calcutta,BombayandMadrasundertheprovisionsoftheIndianHighCourts
actof1861.

16.SirJohnLawrence18641869
LordJohnLawrence(18641869)
AnimportanteventofthistimewaswaragainstBhutanin1865.ThePunjabandOudh
TenancyAct,1860,wasenacted.TwofamineshitIndia;firstinOrrisaandsecondin186869
inBundelkhandandRajputana.AFamineCommissionwassetupunderthechairmanship
ofSirHenryCampbell.

ofSirHenryCampbell.
FollowedapolicyofrigidnoninterferenceinAfghanistancalledPolicyofMasterly
Inactivity.
SetupHighCourtsatCalcutta,BombayandMadras(1865).
17.TheEarlofMayo18691872
LordMayo(18691872)
ForthefirsttimeinmyIndianhistorycensuswasheldin1871.Thecollegewassetupand
AjmertoimpartsuitableeducationtothesonsoftheIndianprincess.Subsequently,this
collegecametoknownastheMayoCollege.Andagriculturaldepartmentwassetup.In
1872,aconvictSherAlistabbedhimtodeathatPortBlair.
18.TheLordNorthbrook18721876
Themaineventsofthisperiodwere:depositionofGaekwadin1874;theKukamovement;
visitofPrinceofWales;abolitionofincometax;famineinBiharandBengalin18731874.
19.TheLordLytton18761880
LordLytton(18761880)
Maineventsofhistimeperiodwere:
1.Faminein18761878;FamineCommissionwasappointedin1878headedbyGeneral
RichardStrachey.
2.PassedtheRoyalTitleActof1876,washeldtodecorateQueenVictoriawiththetitle
KaiseriHind.
3.TheDelhiDurbar,January1,1877,
4.TheVernacularPressAct,1878waspassed,puttingseveralcurbsonthevernacular
newspapers.
5.IndianArmsact,1878forbadetheIndianpeoplefromkeepingordealinginarmswithout
thepermissionoftheGovernment.
6.FoundationoftheMohammedanAngloOrientalCollegewaslaidbyLordLyttonin1877
atAligarh.
7.StatutoryCivilServicein1879.Itwasalsolaiddownthatthecandidateshadtoappear
andpassthecivilservicesexaminationwhichbegantobeheldinEngland.Themaximum
ageforthesecandidateswerereducedfrom21to19yearsinanattempttopreventIndians
fromenteringintothecivilservices.
20.TheMarquessofRipon18801884

LordRipon(18801884)

LordRipon(18801884)
ImportanteventsduringRiponsstintasviceroywereasfollows:
1.FirstFactoryActforwelfareofchildlabour1881.
2.firstDecennialandRegularCensusin1881,estimatedtotalpopulationtobe254
million.
3.Financialdecentralisationin1882whichwasearlierinitiatedbyLordMayo
underHuntercommissiononeducation(1882).
4.RepealofVernacularPressact,1882.
5.Resolutionin1882forinstitutionoflocalselfgovernmentinIndia.
6.Themaximumageofadmissiontocivilservicesraisedto21.
7.IntroductionoftheIlbertBillwhichwouldauthorizeIndiajudgestohearcasesagainst
theEuropeansaswelltherebyabolishedjudicialdisqualificationbasedonrace.Therewas
astrongprotestonthepartoftheEuropeansparticularlytheEnglishandeventually
underpressurethegovernmentamendedthebillandprovidedfortherightsofthe
Europeantoclaimtrialbyjuryof12,outofwhichatleast7weretobeEuropeans.
8.FamineCodein1883
21.TheEarlofDufferin18841888
HisperiodwitnessedthethirdAngloBurmesewarwhichledtotheaccessionofupper
Burma.ThreeTenancyActswerepassedtogivegreatersecurityoftenureortothetenants.
IndianNationalcongresswasformedduringthisperiodandhecommentedonCongress
sayingitwasmicroscopeminority
22.TheMarquessofLansdowne18881894
enactmentofsecondfactoryact;demarcationoftheIndoAfghanborder(DurandLine);
SecondIndiancouncilAct(1892).
AgeofConsentActin1891whichforbademarriageofgirlbelow12
23.TheEarlofElgin18941899
AbubonicplagueinBombayin1896andseverdraughtinBikanerandHissardistrictwere
someoftheimportanteventsofhisperiod.
24.TheLordCurzonofKedleston18991905
LordCurzon(18991905)
Highlightsofhisperiodwereasfollows:
1.LordCurzonsetupaFamineCommissionunderMacDonnell.
2.ThePunjabLandAlienationActof1900,prohibitedthesaleofagriculturallandsforits

2.ThePunjabLandAlienationActof1900,prohibitedthesaleofagriculturallandsforits
attachmentinexecutionofadecree.
3.Agriculturalbankswereestablished.
4.In1904,thecooperativecreditsocietiesactwaspassed.
5.TheDepartmentofagriculturewasestablishedin1901.MoncriefcommissiononIrrigation
in1902
6.HefoundedonagricultureresearchInstituteatPusa.
7.Commissionwasappointedin1901toconsidertheproblemsofeducation.
8.InordertopreserveandprotectancientmonumentsofIndia,hepassedtheAncient
MonumentsProtectionAct1904,andArchaeologicalDepartmentwasestablishedin1901.
9.ThesetupofPoliceCommissionundertheChairmanshipofSirAndrewFrazerin1902.It
recommendedforenhancementinsalariesandcreationofadepartmentofCriminal
intelligence.ACriminalInvestigationDepartmentwasopenedineachdistrict.In1901the
ImperialCadetCorpswassetup.
10.CreationofanewDepartmentofCommerceandIndustry.
11.PartitionofBengal;CreationofanewprovincecalledtheNorthWestFrontierProvince;
Swadeshimovement.

25.TheEarlofMinto19051910
MintoMorleyReformsof1909whichprovidedforseparateelectoratetoMuslims.
S.P.SinhawasappointedamemberofGovernorGeneralscouncil
26.TheLordHardingeofPenshurst19101916
LordHardingeII(19101916)
1.InthehonourofKingGeorgeVandQueenMaryofEngland,CoronationDarbarwasheld
atDelhi.
2.In1911thecapitalofcountrywasannouncedtobeshiftedfromCalcuttatoDelhi.In1912,
Delhibecamethenewcapital.
3.TheFirstWorldWarbrokeoutin1914.In1916,LordHardingelaidthefoundationofthe
BenarasHinduUniversity.MadanMohanMalaviyawastheFounderChancellorofthis
university.
27.TheLordChelmsford19161921
LordChelmsford(19161921)
1.EnactmentoftheGovernmentofIndia,1919(MontagueChelmsforReforms)which
introduceddyarchyintheprovinces;

introduceddyarchyintheprovinces;
2.enactmentofRowlattAct(1919);
3.theJallianwalaBaghTragedy(1919);andthebeginningoftheNoncooperation
Movementweresomeoftheimportanteventsinhisperiod.
4.FoundationofWomensUniversityatPoonain1916.
5.HunterCommitteewasconstitutedonPunjabwrongs.
6.ChambersofPrincesswasestablishedin1921.
28.TheEarlofReading19211926
LordReading(192126)
1.HeldoftheNonCorporationMovement(1922);
2.arrivalofthePrinceofWales(1921);
3.outbreakoftheMoplahRevolt(1921);ChauriChauraIncidentinU.P;MahatmaGandhi
wassenttoprisonforthefirsttimeinIndia.
4.FoundationofRashtriyaSwayamSevakSang(RSS)byK.B.HedgewaratNagpurin1925.
5.BeginningofIndianisationoftheofficerscadreoftheIndianarmy.
6.RailwaybudgetwasseparatedfromGeneralBudgetin1925.
7.SkeenCommitteeorIndianSandhurstCommitteeonArmyreformswasappointedin
1925.Itsubmitteditsreportto1926.
8.LeeCommissiononPublicServicein1924,ReportSubmittedin1924.
9.YoungHiltonCommitteeonCurrency(1926).
29.TheLordIrwin19261931
LordIrwin(192631)(PopularlyknownasChristianViceroy)
1.AppointmentofSimoncommissionin1928.
2.Passingoftheresolutionforcompleteindependence(purnasmarajya)in1929.
3.LaunchingofthecivilDisobediencemovement.
4.GandhiIrwinPactin1931;
5.FirstAroundTableConference(1930).

6.AppointmentoftheIndianStatesCommissionunder.HarcourtButler(1927)to

6.AppointmentoftheIndianStatesCommissionunder.HarcourtButler(1927)to
recommendmeasuresfortheestablishmentofbetterrelationsbetweentheIndianstatesand
theCentralgovernment.
7.DeepavaliDeclaration(1929)thatIndiawouldbegrantedDominionstatusinduecourse.
8.RoyalcommissiononIndianLabourwasappointed(1929),Report(1931).
9.SardActwaspassedin1929Marriagesofgirlbelow14andboysbelow18yearsofage
wasprohibited.
30.TheEarlofWillingdon193136
LordWillingdon(19311936)
Importanteventswere:
1.ThesecondAroundTableConference,1931;
2.RestartingoftheDisbodienceMovement,1931
3.Thecommunalaward,1932;thePoonaact;
4.ThirdRoundTableConference,1932
5.WhitePaperonpoliticalreformsinIndiawaspublished(1933).
6.TheGovernmentofIndiaOf1935;
7.EarthquakeinBiharonJanuary15,1934.
8.BurmaandAdenwasseparatedfromtheBritishEmpire(1935).
9.SeparateStateofBiharandOrissa.
10.LeesModyPact(October1933)bythisBombaytextilesgroupagreedtofurther
preferencesforBritishtextilesinplaceofJapaneseImportsinreturnforaLancashire
promisetobuymoreIndianrawcotton.
11.MuslimConferencewasfoundedinKashmir(1932),renamedNationalConferencein
1938.ImportantleadersSheikhAbdullahandP.N.Bazaz.
31.TheMarquessofLinlithgow19361943
LordLinlithgow(193644)
Highlightsofhisreignwere:
1.LongestreignasviceroyofIndia
2.BeginningoftheSecondWorldWar.
3.ComingintoforceoftheGovernmentofIndiaAct1935withprovincesgoingtoelections.
4.ArrivaloftheCrippsMission.

4.ArrivaloftheCrippsMission.
5.BeginningoftheQuitIndiaMovement,
6.GreatFamineofBengal(1943)
7.OctoberofferbytheViceroyinwhichhedeclaredtheDominionstatusastheultimate
goalofBritishpolicyinIndia.
8.AtitsHaripuraSession(February,1939)CongressdeclaredPoornaSwarajidealtocover
nativestatesandBritishIndia.
32.TheViscountWavell19431947
LordWavell(19441947)
1.HisperiodisfamousfortheShimlaconference,1945;
2.arrivaloftheCabinetMission,1946;
3.theConstituentAssemblyboycottedbytheMuslimLeaguewhichlaunchedtheheinous
DirectActionDayonAugust16,1946;
4.theInterimGovernmentunderPt.JawaharlalNehrusleadership;
5.AttleesDeclarationthathisgovernmentwasintendedtohandovertheAdministrationof
IndiatoherpeoplebeforeJune1948,evenifnoagreementwasreachedbetweenthe
CongressandtheMuslimLeague.
33.TheViscountMountbattenofBurma1947asGGIandLouisMountbatten,1stEarl
MountbattenofBurma:19471948asGGIofIndependentIndia
LordMountabatten,(March1947June1948)
1.DeclarationofthirdJune,1947>HisplantomakeIndiafreeonAugust15,1947.Earlier
proposedPlanBalkani.e.totaldismembermentoftheIndianterritorybutsoonleftthe
idea.MadeitcleartothePrincelystatesthattheyshallnotbegrantedseparate
independenceandtheywillhavetojoineitherIndiaorPakistan.
2.IndianIndependenceAct,Partitionofthecountrybetweentwoindependentstatesof
IndiaandPakistanwithLordMountbattenandMrM.A.JinnahastheirrespectiveGovernor
generals.
G.G.Councilheldmeetingoftwokindsonewasordinarymeetingswhichwereassociated
withexecutivebusiness.Secondwasknownaslegislativemeetingswhichwereformaking
laws&regulations.ExecutiveCouncil&LegislativeCouncilweretwotermsusedto
indicatetwoseparatefunctionsofcouncil.Actintroducedconceptofporfoliosystem.
MembersofG.G.Councilweremadeinchargeofseparatedepartments.
34.ChakravarthiRajagopalachari:19481950:BecamethefirstGGIofIndia
Impressedwithhisabilities,MountbattenmadeRajagopalacharihissecondchoiceto
succeedhimafterVallabhbhaiPatel,whenhewastoleaveIndiainJune

succeedhimafterVallabhbhaiPatel,whenhewastoleaveIndiainJune
1948.RajagopalachariwaseventuallychosenastheGovernorGeneralwhenNehru
disagreedwithMountbattensfirstchoice,asdidPatelhimself.
RajagopalacharifondlycalledasRajaji,thenservedasGovernorGeneralofIndiafromJune
1948until26January1950,andwasnotonlythelastGovernorGeneralofIndia,butthe
onlyIndiannationalevertoholdtheoffice.
Bytheendof1949,anassumptionwasmadethatRajagopalachari,alreadyGovernor
General,wouldcontinueasPresident.BackedbyNehru,Rajagopalachariwantedtostand
forthepresidentialelectionbutlaterwithdrew,duetotheoppositionofasectionofthe
IndianNationalCongresswhowereconcernedaboutRajagopalacharisnonparticipation
duringtheQuitIndiaMovement.

CreateafreewebsiteorblogatWordPress.com(https://wordpress.com/?ref=footer_website).
TheBigBrotherTheme(https://wordpress.com/themes/bigbrother/).
Follow

FollowTHREEMUCH
BuildawebsitewithWordPress.com(https://wordpress.com/?ref=lof)