Dr Liz Driver – Elphinstone, Malcolm and the Wellesleys: An Introduction to Central India in the Early 19th Century

The first decades of the 19^th century have been described as the “golden age of English rule” “a brief but glorious interregnum between eighteenth century corruption and nineteenth century complacency”. This was the age of Elphinstone and Malcolm in Central India and Bombay, Tod in Rajputana and Munro in Madras. All were Scots, with the impressive ability to combine military, political and diplomatic roles with literary and linguistic skills. All worked hard to restore order and prosperity in the aftermath of the Anglo-Maratha and Pindari wars and believed that there should not be excessive interference by the now paramount power in the running of the native states and in their judicial systems. They were opposed to colonisation and to attempts to convert to Christianity and, above all, believed that Indians should be educated to govern their own country when the English left, as they should and inevitably would. Their views on the need for education and the role of the state in funding it were at least a decade ahead of the government at home, where it was only just being recognised that the state had a duty to see that its citizens could read and write.

Inevitably, the accusation of orientalism has been made against them and it is argued that their interpretation of Indian culture and history was distorted by their Scottish enlightenment “cultural luggage”. This talk looks at the achievements–and failures-of Elphinstone and Malcolm in Central India following the expansion of East India Company territory under Governor-General Richard Wellesley and the military successes of his brother Arthur, the future Duke of Wellington. It examines the characters of the men and the influence that had on the way they fulfilled their various roles, including, in both cases, that of Governor of Bombay.

Free and open to all at 14 Stephenson Way, NW1 2HD

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