Policing and Military Reorganisation in Colonial India

Introduction

Mughal and native states had autocratic governments lacking a formal police system. Faujdars maintained law and order, and Amils dealt with the rebels; while Kotwal was responsible for maintaining law and order in the cities. Zamindars were expected to maintain staff, including thanedars, for law and order duties. From the establishment of the British East India Company’s rule in the 18th century to the eventual transfer of power in 1947, the policing and military structures underwent significant transformations.

British Influence on Policing (1770-1775)

• Abolishment of Faujdars and Amils in 1770.
• Faujdars: They were reinstated by Warren Hastings (1774) to suppress dacoits, violence, and disorder.
• Faujdar Thanas: were established in major towns in 1775.
• Introduction of a modernized police system by the British.

Evolution Under British Rule

• Establishment of a Regular Police Force: In 1791, Cornwallis organized a regular police force by going back to the old Indian system of thanas (circles) in a district under a Daroga (an Indian) and a Superintendent of Police (SP) at the head of a district. 
  • He relieved zamindars of their duties.
• In 1808, Mayo appointed a Superintendent of Police (SP) for each division, assisted by spies.
• In 1814, the Court of Directors abolished Darogas and subordinates except in Bengal.
• Police Administration under William Bentinck: William Bentinck (Governor general, 1828-35) abolished the office of SP; 
  • collector/magistrate to head the police force, and commissioner to act as SP.
• Police Commission (1860): recommendations led to the Indian Police Act, 1861.
  • Key Recommendations include setting up of Civil constabulary, a hierarchical structure with an inspector-general, deputy inspector-general, and SP.

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Pre-1857 Military Structure

• The military played a crucial role in the Company’s governance in India. There were two Separate Forces
• Queen’s Army: The serving troops on duty in India. It was part of the Crown’s military force
• Company’s Troops: A mixture of European regiments of Britons and Native regiments recruited locally from India but with British officers.
• After the 1857 revolt, systematic reorganization due to the lessons learned from the revolt.

Post-1857 Reorganization

• Objective: The reasons for reorganization were the prevention of future revolts and defence against imperialist powers.
• The Indian Army‘s Role: It was to defend Indian territory and expand its influence in Asia and Africa.
• The Dominance of Europeans: European dominance over Indian branches was emphasized.
  • It carefully fixed the proportions of Europeans to Indians in different armies.
  • There was a strict European monopoly over key departments and locations maintained.
  • Indians were given inferior rifles until 1900, and excluded from high-tech departments until WW2.
• No Indians were allowed in officer ranks until 1914; with limited roles until 1918.
• A vision of a 50% Indianised officer cadre by 1952 as late as 1926.

Reorganisation Policy and Ideology

• Reorganization was based on the divide-and-rule principle.
• Martial Race: This ideology was followed as developed in the late 1880s, justifying discriminatory recruitment policies.
• Discrimination in Recruitment: As Sikhs, Gurkhas, and Pathans were favoured; other groups were declared non-martial.
• Caste and Communal Companies: were introduced to balance socio-ethnic groups in the regiments.
  • Communal, caste, tribal, and regional consciousness was encouraged to prevent nationalist feelings.
• Isolation of Soldiers from General Population: Soldiers were isolated from the general population through restrictions on newspapers and publications.

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Conclusion

The British created a new police system and reorganized the military after a big revolt in 1857. They did this to maintain their control, using tactics like dividing people and promoting certain groups as more important for the military.  These decisions shaped how India’s government worked and how people saw themselves, even after the British left.