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“The unhappy prince was expelled, and his more unhappy country was enslaved and ruined; but not a rupee was acquired.”
This means Hastings punished a ruler and ruined his land, even though he got no money from it. Hastings ruled with fear and destroyed peace.
Heartless and Greedy: Hastings had no mercy. He only wanted money. Burke says Hastings sold out Shah Alam and the Afghan Rohillas. Their leader, Hafiz Rhamet Khan, was killed. His wife and children begged for food. Their land became dry and empty. Hastings also attacked the Begums of Oude. He took their gold and land with lies and tricks. He did not care about women or the old. Burke shows him as a man full of greed and hate, not a kind ruler.
Breaking Promises: Burke says Hastings broke many treaties. He took money from Indian rulers but gave nothing back. He broke the Company’s promise to the Mogul, the Nawabs, the Nizam, and Hyder Ali. The Company also broke its deal with Najaf Khan. The author claims,
“Secondly, I say, that there is not a single treaty they have ever made, which they have not broken.”
Burke says Hastings himself wrote that he did not follow public faith. Hastings used lies to win wars and take land. He broke trust again and again. His rule had no honesty, and that made people suffer badly.
Revenge on Good Men: Hastings punished those who were honest. If anyone opposed him, he destroyed them. Burke says men like Colonel Manson and General Clavering were praised by the Company. But Hastings did not like them. So, he ruined their careers. Hastings also punished Mahomed Reza Khan and hanged Rajah Nundcomar. Nundcomar gave proof of Hastings’s crimes. So Hastings took revenge. Burke says Hastings never let justice win. He only wanted to save himself by any means.
A Master of Crimes: Burke shows that Hastings made crime a rule. He did evil again and again to keep power. Hastings attacked weak people and rich rulers. He used fear, lies, and force. Burke gives a strong line that shows his anger. He says,
“Crimes so convenient, crimes so politic, crimes so necessary, crimes so alleviating of distress, can never be wanting to those who use no process, and who produce no proofs.”
Burke means that Hastings always found an excuse to do wrong. He made his crimes look like duty.
In conclusion, Burke gives a clear and brave attack on Hastings. He shows how Hastings used power in the wrong way. Hastings broke promises, robbed people, punished the honest, and ruled with no law. He cared only for money, not for justice. Burke speaks with facts and feelings. He wants Parliament to stop such evil rule. Hastings is shown as a symbol of cruelty and greed. Burke's words still help us to see how power should be used for good, not for selfish gain.
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