English in India Today

In the previous chapter, we stopped with the end of the EIC in India. In ad 1857, the EIC was able to suppress the Sepoy Mutiny, though at great human and material cost. Yet its rule in India ended. India now came under the direct rule of the British Crown. Queen Victoria (ad 1832–1903) of the United Kingdom proclaimed herself the Empress of India. However, little changed in administrative details at the local level, though some changes in the administrative structure were brought about. In place of the Board of Control and the Court of Directors, the administration of India was now controlled by the British Parliament through a minister for Indian affairs. The Imperial Government was inclined to bring all of India under its influence, even if not under its direct rule.

Officials in India continued with their powers more or less intact. Lord Canning acquired the distinction of being the last Governor General (ad 1856–1858) of the Company's government in India and the first Viceroy (ad 1858–1862) of the Imperial Government in India. Elsewhere too there was no serious change of personnel or policy. In education, the Imperial Government decided to mosdy continue the policy of the Company Government. As recommended by Wood's Charter, universities were created in the three Presidency cities of Bombay, Calcutta and Madras in 1858–59. Other universities followed in Lahore (1869), Punjab (1882) and Allahabad (1887) and so on.