Ring-fence policy
Also called: Ring fence · Topic: Europeans in India and the Rise of Company Rule · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
The ring-fence policy was the policy of Warren Hastings, Governor-General from 1773 to 1785. The Company defended the borders of friendly neighbouring states, but those states had to pay for the troops. These states then acted as buffer zones, or protective walls, around the Company's own lands in Bengal. The aim was to keep enemies such as the Marathas and the Afghans away from Bengal.
Example
Awadh is the main example. Company troops helped guard Awadh, and the Nawab of Awadh paid for them. Awadh lay between Bengal and the Marathas, so it served as a shield for the Company. In this way, Bengal was protected without the Company paying the cost.
Don't confuse with
- Subsidiary Alliance: Lord Wellesley developed this into a system after 1798. It went much further. The ruler also had to accept a Resident at his court and give up an independent foreign policy. The ring-fence policy only asked allies to pay for their own border defence.
Related concepts
- Divide and rule
- Dastak
- Black Hole of Calcutta
- Siraj-ud-daulah
- Robert Clive
- Battle of Plassey
- Mir Jafar
- Mir Qasim
- Battle of Buxar 1764
- Treaty of Allahabad 1765