Social Legislation of the East India Company

A hitherto unattempted survey of social legislation by the East India
Company, this book identifies the principles of Public Justice and
Public Instruction as the inspiration for legislative decisions, some of
which resonate in post-colonial India. It dwells particularly on
legislation which manipulated Muslim criminal law in order to protect,
and in some instances, create, the rights of women, slaves, bonded
labourers and victims of crime. It also examines the Company's cautious
venture into the realm of civil law affecting the ideals of religious
toleration, remarriage of Hindu widows as well as inheritance and
property law. Finally, it considers excise as a regulatory instrument in
the Company's administration of Pilgrim Taxes and Abkarry revenue from
liquor and opium.

The book traces the journey of the
small group of merchants, who initially formed the East India Company,
and while enviously guarding their sometimes piratical commercial
interests, actually became a burgeoning nation state. It shows how...