Modern Indian Historical Figures

Lord Ripon is regarded to have been the father of local self-government in India. He formulated the local self government and laid the foundations of representative institutions in India. His scheme of local self government developed the Municipal institutions which had been growing up in the country ever since.

William Bentick served as the Governor-General of India from 1828 to 1835. He abolished the Sati system in 1829 with the efforts of Raja Ram Mohan Roy. According to a regulation of December 1829, he declared the practice of Sati illegal and punishable by Criminal Courts as 'Culpable Homicide'. This decision was supported by an enlightened community of Indian society.

Lord Dalhousie served as the Governor General of India from 1848 to 1856. His eight year rules were full of improvement and reforms.  He passed Widow Remarriage Act in 1855 which legalized the marriage of Hindu Widows. However this reform became one of the reasons to annoy the people of India.

Indian Postal System was developed under the governor-generalship of Lord Dalhousie. He served as the Governor General of India from 1848 to 1856. The postal stamps were used in 1854 for the first time.  

A separate Public Works Department was set up under the rule of Dalhousie. Irrigational works were undertaken on an extensive scale. The constructional work of Ganga canal was completed and was inaugurated on April 8, 1854. 

Bengal Sati Regulation, 1829. A Regulation for declaring the practice of Sati or of Burning or Burying alive the Widows of Hindus, illegal, and punishable by the Criminal Courts.

Lord Dalhousie, who was the governor-general of India from 1848 to 1856, started the Public Works Department in 1848, and irrigation projects were among the earliest to be launched by this department.

The East India company failed to pay its dues to Government to maintain its monopoly. On the other hand the officials of east India Company were getting richer by their private trade and by receiving gifts. Having observed these things, Lord North decided to overhaul the management of the East India Company with the Regulating Act.

Governors of Madras and Bombay presidencies were brought under the control of Governor General of Bengal. Under the Regulating Act.

Governor General-in-Council was created with Governor General as head and with four members of the Council to control Legislative and Executive functions.

By a supplementary act passed in 1786 lord Cornwallis was appointed as the second Governor-General of Bengal, and he then became the effective ruler of British India under the authority of the Board of Control and the Court of Directors.

Sir Ellijay Impey was appointed as chief Justice of Supreme Court of Calcutta in 1771.

In suppression of Thugs, along with William Bentinck, one more name is cherished. This able officer was William Henry Sleeman. Initially he was a soldier and later became the administrator. In 1835, the 'Thuggee and Dacoity Dept' was created by William Bentinck and William Henry Sleeman was made its superintendent.

The Provincial Courts of appeal and circuit had been largely responsible for the huge arrears of cases. The judicial procedure followed in these courts often resulted in delays and uncertainties. Bentick abolished these courts.

Lord William Bentinck is known for administrative reforms, including the separation of judicial and revenue functions, but the combination of Collector and Magistrate functions was a hallmark of his administrative restructuring.