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- This document is an extract from the list of charges against Warren
Hastings in 1785. Warren Hastings was the Governor of Bengal from 1773
onwards.
- When he first took on the role he reorganised the British East India
Company's administration in Bengal, overhauling its financial and justice
systems.
- Hastings also encouraged British officials in India to study Indian
languages and culture in order to understand and govern the people better.
- Unfortunately for Hastings, he also became involved in various disputes
with Indian rulers. This caused severe financial losses to the Company.
This in turn allowed his political opponents in Britain to turn opinion
against him.
- In 1785 he was put on trial for corruption. He was accused of making
himself and his friends rich instead of running Bengal properly.
- It is likely that many East India Company officials did make
themselves rich by corruption, but Hastings was probably not one of
them. Hastings was acquitted, but the controversy led to the end of
his career as a politician.
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