Review: Studies in the History of the British in India
Summary
This review summarises Dr. A. P. Das Gupta’s collection of essays on eighteenth‑century British administration in India. The volume brings together papers on diverse topics, including the conflict between the Select Committee and the Council in 1770, the manner in which the English obtained the dewanī of Bengal before the formal grant of 1765, and newly published correspondence between Warren Hastings and Sir Thomas Rumbold that illuminates personal relations and political motives. Other essays survey the Macartney papers held in Satara, revealing information about Lord Macartney’s diplomatic mission in southern India and his negotiations with Indian rulers. The reviewer commends the author’s use of primary sources and the insights offered into the workings of early colonial governance. Despite the variety of topics, the essays collectively enrich understanding of British political and diplomatic activity in India during a formative period.
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Conclusion
The reviewer concludes that Das Gupta’s collection is a valuable contribution to the study of early British administration in India. By drawing on letters, manuscripts and official documents, the essays provide nuanced perspectives on colonial policy and its interaction with Indian rulers. The volume’s comprehensive index and illustrations enhance its utility. While some repetition is inevitable in a compilation of previously published studies, the reviewer recommends the book to historians seeking detailed analyses of the East India Company’s operations and to readers interested in the complexities of eighteenth‑century Indo‑British relations.