From conquest to control East India company rule in malabar 1792 1858

Abstract

The region of Malabar - the territory between Cochin and Canara, the Arabian Sea, and theWestern Ghats - comprised of the northern districts of present Kerala State, namely, Kasargod,Kannur, Wayanad, Kozhikode, Malappuram, and Palakkad. By the treaty of Srirangapatanam,concluded on the 18th March 1792, Malabar became part of the British domains in India,Malabar was ceded along with other tracts to the East India Company, and placed under theBombay Presidency. The unparalleled colonial experience of Malabar reshaped the history ofthe land in the later years. At the end of 1800, the province was transferred to the Madraspresidency. Now the country was for the first time in its history brought under a colonial power.The administrative settlements in Malabar by the company had far reaching results on its socio-economic structure. The immediate impact of the British policy was the ruin of traditional,handicrafts in Malabar leaving the artisans to lead a life of penury. The Bombay commissionersand later the joint commissioners appointed by the company introduced a series ofadministrative regulations in Malabar.In the context of Malabar, the English East India Company took the administration in 1792,and emerged as a kind of super lord through the domination over the indigenous rulers. Theadvent of Company rule in Malabar replaced the traditional customs and introduced structuralchanges in the society and economy. East India Company conquered Malabar and introducedan effective administrative system, like land revenue, and the establishment of prison, Army,police, Education, rule of law, judiciary and health administration in Malabar. The Companyaimed to establish a fully functioning administrative system in Malabar which was to be in aposition to collect the taxes levied by the British regularly.