Rammohun Roy's Memorial to the Supreme Court
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- Category: History: Asian
- Date Submitted: 04/07/2010 01:48 PM
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In 1823, Thomas Munro , Governor-General of Madras, brought into force regulations which sought to restrict press freedom by stating that;
a daily or periodical paper should not be published in this city [Calcutta] without an Affadavit being made by its Proprietor in the Police Office, and without a Licence being procured for such a publication from the Chief Secretary to Government; and that after such Licence being obtained, it is optional with the Governor-General to recall the same, whenever His Excellency is dissatisfied with any part of that paper
In response to this Ordinance, Rammohun Roy presented a Memorial to the Supreme Court in Bengal, in which he petitioned against the regulations. With regard to the usefulness of Roy's Memorial in considering the significance of the interaction between Britain and India in the early 1800's, it is helpful to examine the nature of that interaction.
Trade was Britain's initial gateway to India. In 1600, Queen Elizabeth I granted a Charter to the Governor and Company of Merchants trading with the East Indies. By 1647, the Company had established 23 trading posts, known as factories, in ~India. The most important of these were Bombay Castle, Fort St George in Madras and Fort William in Bengal. The status of the Company was enhanced in the 1670's when Charles II granted it rights to mint coinage, command fortresses and troops, form alliances, acquire territory and exercise criminal and civil jurisdiction over the areas it had acquired.
It was in these circumstances that Britain formed a military presence in India. Company factories began to serve not only as logistical bases, but also as militarily protected places of refuge. Following Robert Clive's victory at the Battle of Plassey in 1757, Britain was able to consolidate its position in India and by 1800, the East India Company was the recognised political power in the sub-continent.
Britain's expansion in India can be attributed to more than military power....
a daily or periodical paper should not be published in this city [Calcutta] without an Affadavit being made by its Proprietor in the Police Office, and without a Licence being procured for such a publication from the Chief Secretary to Government; and that after such Licence being obtained, it is optional with the Governor-General to recall the same, whenever His Excellency is dissatisfied with any part of that paper
In response to this Ordinance, Rammohun Roy presented a Memorial to the Supreme Court in Bengal, in which he petitioned against the regulations. With regard to the usefulness of Roy's Memorial in considering the significance of the interaction between Britain and India in the early 1800's, it is helpful to examine the nature of that interaction.
Trade was Britain's initial gateway to India. In 1600, Queen Elizabeth I granted a Charter to the Governor and Company of Merchants trading with the East Indies. By 1647, the Company had established 23 trading posts, known as factories, in ~India. The most important of these were Bombay Castle, Fort St George in Madras and Fort William in Bengal. The status of the Company was enhanced in the 1670's when Charles II granted it rights to mint coinage, command fortresses and troops, form alliances, acquire territory and exercise criminal and civil jurisdiction over the areas it had acquired.
It was in these circumstances that Britain formed a military presence in India. Company factories began to serve not only as logistical bases, but also as militarily protected places of refuge. Following Robert Clive's victory at the Battle of Plassey in 1757, Britain was able to consolidate its position in India and by 1800, the East India Company was the recognised political power in the sub-continent.
Britain's expansion in India can be attributed to more than military power....