Mention the merits and demerits of subsidiary alliance system.
Answers
1) It added to the strength and resources of the British without requiring them to undertake the risk and expenses of the war.2) It sealed for ever the chance for the rise of France in India by eliminating all foreign elements except the English from the courts of the princes.
DEMERITS
1) Since the money demanded from the princes by the British was out of proportion, it virtually brought an economic ruin to the states. This forced the states to cut down their own welfare measures.
2) The second defect of the system was that it crushed the initiative and responsibility of the Indian prince by making them dependent upon the British for the maintenance of law and order and for the protection of the territorial boundaries.
After the battle of Plassey in 1757, the battle of Buxar in 1764 and gaining the Diwani of Bengal, the company began to expand its rule in many parts of India. For that it had devised several plans, one among them was the “Subsidiary Alliance”. Subsidiary Alliance system was means used by the Company to extend its control over the Indian states.
According to the terms of this alliance -
The East India Company behaved as a guardian of the State.
The State appointed an English Resident in its court, to check the activities of the king.
Indian rulers were not allowed to have their independent armed forces.
The State could not give shelter to any other European other than English in its army.
The Indian states entering into subsidiary alliance were protected by the Company’s forces but had to pay for the maintenance of the British troops. The Indian rulers were not allowed to have their independent armed forces. If the Indian rulers failed to make payments to the British, part of their kingdom was taken away as penalty.