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Home / IAS Preparation / Lord Ripon The Viceroy Of India

Lord Ripon - Learn about his Early Life, Reforms as Viceroy of India, Political Career & Later LIfe

Last Updated on Nov 11, 2024
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George Frederick Samuel Robinson, 1st Marquess of Ripon, popularly known as Lord Ripon, was a liberal politician credited for several improvements in India’s internal administration and served as an Indian Viceroy from 1880 through 1884. Lord Ripon was a guy who sought to enhance the lives of local Indians and extend and strengthen the country’s educational system. Despite his reputation in India as a Gladstone agent, he has proved to be a libertarian and a capable administrator. He is known to be the most liberal viceroy and is popularly known as the ‘Good Viceroy of India‘, who launched several reform programs when he took office on 8th June 1880.

In the Modern History of India, Lord Ripon proposed crucial reforms. These Article reforms are undertaken by Lord Ripon in various sectors for the betterment of administration in India. Lord Ripon is an important topic for aspirants preparing for the UPSC IAS exam. This topic covers a significant part of the UPSC History syllabus in the General Studies Paper-1 syllabus.

Also, check out the Impact Of British Rule In India here.

Who was Lord Ripon?

Lord Ripon, born on October 24, 1827, was the second son of Prime Minister F.J. Lord Ripon and became the Viceroy of India under Gladstone’s reign. Lord Ripon entered the House of Commons in 1852 as a member of the Liberal Party. The change of administration in Britain, with Gladstone’s Liberal Party in power, coincided with a shift in India’s top executive. William Gladstone appointed Lord Ripon as the Governor-General and Viceroy of India in 1880, having previously held prominent positions in the Indian Office on two occasions. Lord Ripon's time period in India lasted from 1880 to 1884. He died on July 9, 1909.

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Historical Background of Lord Ripon
  • Lord Ripon, a radical liberal among liberals, began his reform agenda almost immediately after taking office.
  • His first move was to put an end to the long-running Anglo-Afghan conflict. He signed a peace deal with Amir Abdur Rahman, the new Afghan ruler.
  • One of his first acts as the Governor-General and Viceroy of India was the introduction of the IIbert Bill, which would have granted Indians more legal rights, including the right of Indian judges to judge Europeans in court.
  • He has taken several steps to liberalise the Indian government. He sought to provide Indians with popular and political education.
  • He presented legislation in India that would have given native Indians additional legal rights, including the ability of judges to judge Europeans in court.
  • Ripon had the backing of Florence Nightingale in this endeavour, as well as in his efforts to have the Bengal land tenancy bill passed, which would alleviate the plight of the peasants.
  • 25 January 1884 is the day lord Ripon's resolution was adopted.
  • Lord Ripon appointed Hunter commission for Education to look into the complaints of the non-implementation of the Wood’s Despatch of 1854.

Check the Modern History NCERT Notes Here!

Reforms of Lord Ripon as the Viceroy of India

Lord Ripon brought several significant reforms to India. Some of the major reforms are mentioned below:

Repeal of Vernacular Press Act

  • Lord Ripon was opposed to Lord Lytton’s Vernacular Press Act, which gave independence to publications produced in vernacular languages.
  • Ripon’s liberal policies were met with opposition once more when, in 1882, he repealed the contentious vernacular press act (1878), which required Indian newspaper editors to either give an undertaking not to publish any matter objectionable to the government or to submit proof sheets for inspection before publication.
  • The native press applauded his actions, while the Anglo-Indian press and the community opposed allowing indigenous journalistic freedom.
  • However, Ripon’s notion of giving everyone freedom of the press without racial discrimination won out.

Also, check out the article on Lord Mayo here.

The Factory Reforms

  • Lord Ripon enacted the Factory Act, which established the first factory.
  • Children under seven were not allowed to work, while children under 12 were only allowed to labour for a certain amount of hours.
  • This Act also provided for a one-hour break during working hours and four monthly vacations for employees.
  • It was the first time a British government official attempted to improve factory conditions.

The Ilbert Bill Debate

  • The most divisive topic during Ripon’s presidency was the Ilbert Bill. The debate stemmed from the topic of native judges’ jurisdiction over European subjects.
  • Sir Courtney Ilbert, a member of the Law Committee, proposed a measure to end the protected status of white people. Its goal is to guarantee that all subjects are treated equally in the eyes of the law, whether native or not.
  • The Anglo-Indian community strongly opposed the bill’s passage, forcing the government to implement it with significant changes to the bill’s original spirit and word.

Check out Lord Mountbatten: The Last Viceroy Of India! Here.

 Local Self-Government

  • Local self-government aimed to teach Native Americans how to solve their issues.
  • Although municipalities previously existed, the body was led by a municipal commissioner. Ripon preferred that the chairperson not be a government official.

 Rendition of Mysore

  • In 1831, Lord Bentinck seized the state of Mysore, accusing it of misgovernance.
  • It was later discovered that the accusations of misgovernance were greatly overstated.
  • Ripon resolved to right the wrong and returned the state’s governance to the ousted Raja’s adopted son, who died in 1866.

Study the article on Lord Curzon here!

 Educational Reforms

  • Lord Ripon established an education commissioner, chaired by Sir William Hunter, to keep an eye on the highlighted advances.
  • The panel emphasised the importance of the state’s unique role in improving and expanding elementary education.
  • A new education strategy emphasising elementary and collegiate institutions was adopted in response to the recommendations of the Hunter Commission.

 Land and Tenancy Reforms

  • Ripon was opposed to the idea of establishing a revenue structure modelled after India’s Permanent Settlement of Bengal.
  • Though passed after Ripon’s departure, the renowned Bengal tenancy legislation of 1885 originated in the Rent Commission, which he formed in 1880 in reaction to increasing peasant agitation in the nation.
  • The Bengal raiyats have been agitating for a long time against the rack-renting zamindars and taluqdars.
  • The Rent Commission was tasked with investigating agricultural issues and making legislative suggestions.
  • The commission’s recommendations (1882) sparked a lengthy discussion about tenants’ rights and obligations, leading to the passage of the Bengal Tenancy Act of 1885, which gave raiyats significant land rights they had lost under the permanent settlement.

Study the Legislations In British India here.

 Economic Reforms

  • Lord Ripon was a supporter of financial decentralisation. He classified revenue sources into three categories:
    • Imperial,
    • Provincial, and
    • Divided.
  • Ripon made more steps toward financial decentralisation for provincial governments to feel more accountable.
  • Excise, Stamps, Forests, Registration, and other revenue were retained under the Divided Head and split between the Centre and the provinces.
  • The provinces were given different headings as sources of revenue so that they could maintain control over their spending.
  • It was also determined that the Centre’s and provinces’ financial agreements would be revisited every five years. Ripon’s financial arrangement lasted until 1904.

Also, check the Tribal Uprisings during British India Here!

Political Career of Lord Ripon

Lord Ripon, also known as George Robinson, was a British statesman and politician who served as the Viceroy of India from 1880 to 1884. He had a long and distinguished political career, serving in various capacities in the British government. Before he was appointed Viceroy of India, Lord Ripon held several important positions in the British government, including Secretary of State for War (1868-1873) and Secretary of State for India (1859-1861). He was also a member of the House of Commons from 1852 to 1874 and served as leader of the Liberal Party in the House of Lords from 1874 to 1880.

As Viceroy of India, Lord Ripon is remembered for his progressive policies, including the reduction of taxes on the Indian peasantry and the repeal of the Vernacular Press Act, which restricted the freedom of the Indian press. He also introduced measures to improve the administration of justice in India and initiated land reforms that benefited the rural population.

Lord Ripon's political career was marked by his commitment to social and political reform, and he was known for his support of religious and racial equality. He was a vocal opponent of imperialism and advocated for the self-government of India. Lord Ripon's political career was marked by his progressive views and commitment to social and political reform, particularly in India. His legacy remains remembered today as a champion of justice and equality.

Later Life of Lord Ripon

In 1884, Lord Ripon's term as Viceroy ended, and he left for England. He held several important posts, including Lord Lieutenant of the North Riding of Yorkshire from 1873 to 1906 and honorary Colonel of the 1st Volunteer Battalion of the Prince of Wales' Own. He was formerly a Freemason and held the offices of Provincial Grand Master of the West Riding, Deputy Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England, and finally, Grand Master beginning in 1870. From 1904 until his passing in 1909, he served as Chancellor of the University of Leeds. His only son, Frederick, succeeded him and was buried with him at St. Mary's in Studley Royal. In Calcutta, he influenced the naming of Ripon Street. He was honoured by having the Ripon Club in Bombay, which the Parsis founded in 1884 for the members of their community.

Lord Ripon: Important Events for UPSC Exam
  • Lord Ripon was a liberal Viceroy who worked to liberalise the Indian administration.
  • He styled Viscount Goderich from 1833 to 1859 and was known as the Earl of Ripon in 1859 and the Earl de Grey and Ripon from 1859 to 1871.
  • In 1881, Congress approved the first Factory Act to safeguard factory workers and children under twelve.
  • In 1882, the Vernacular Press Act was abolished, giving publications written in vernacular languages the same freedom as those written in English.
  • The British government refused to accept Ripon’s proposal to dissolve the Permanent Settlement in Bengal.
  • When the British government protested Ripon’s refusal to pay the expenditures of the Indian army deputed to Egypt in 1882, he resigned in 1884.
  • Ripon made more steps toward financial decentralization for provincial governments to feel more accountable.
  • The Central Government passed a resolution on Local Self-Government in 1882, advising provincial governments to establish Taluka Boards, Municipal Boards, and District Boards with most elected and non-official representatives. Thus the formation of lord Ripon’s local self-government in India began.
  • Ripon adopted most of the Hunter Commission’s recommendations for educational reform, expanding secondary education and primary and female education.

Also, study notes on Lord Minto: Viceroy Of India here.

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Lord Ripon FAQs

Lord Ripon was a firm believer in self-government and a strong Liberal democracy.

From 1880 until 1884, Lord Ripon served as Viceroy of India.

Gladstone, the Liberal Party's Prime Minister of England, appointed Lord Ripon to the post of Viceroy of India.

Lord Ripon is regarded as India's Father of Local Self-Government.

Lord Ripon is credited with giving the Indians their first taste of liberty in 1882 when he established the Local Self Government.
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