Introduction #

From 1894 to 1898, Lord Elgin held the positions of Viceroy and Governor General. The boundaries between China and Siam were established during his rule, the Anglo-Russian convention was signed (1895), the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria was celebrated (1897), the Lyall Commission was established to investigate the famine, a plague broke out in Bombay (1896), and the Plague Commissioner Rand was murdered by the Chapekar brothers in Pune (1897).                                                 

Significant Events During His Tenure #

The Bubonic Plague Struck Bombay From 1896 To 1897 #

India suffered a great deal of misery and distress during the last five years of the 19th century.

• In the Bombay Presidency, the virus spread quickly, forcing residents of Mumbai, Pune, and other cities to escape.
• When the disease began to spread in Pune in 1897, the government made the decision to act quickly to stop it.

Murder Of Wc Rand And Tilak’s Arrest #

893 officers and troops, both British and native, were placed under the supervision of Mr. WC Rand and Lieutenant Ayerst based on the recommendations of the Special Plague Committee. 

• In order to take precautions against the plague, such as eradicating rats, the troops knocked on doors.
• Bal Gangadhar Tilak published divisive pieces in the Kesari newspaper at the time. Amidst the commotion, the “Chapekar brothers,” two young people from Pune, killed WC Rand.
• This resulted in numerous arrests and convictions. Tilak received a sentence of 18 months in solitary confinement.

Regulation Of Press #

The expansion of the press put pressure on the administration. 

• In order to control the press, the IPC’s Sections 124A and 153A were amended, making it illegal for anybody to defame the Indian government or incite animosity between the English and Indian classes in India. 
• There was a widespread outcry against this law.

Conclusion #

The military organisation underwent a major overhaul when Elgin was in charge. The Commander-in-Chief was given command of the whole Indian Army, with four Lieutenant Generals overseeing Bengal, Madras, Bombay, and the Northwest Provinces, which included Punjab. The reign of Lord Elgin was characterised by challenges and sorrow. On January 18, 1917, he died.