Question

What was the objective of the Illbert Bill? Why was it not passed?

Answer 1

Hint: Ilbert bill is considered as one of the most controversial bills introduced by the British government in India, in 1883. It escalated some serious racial tensions among the masses in India and Britain.

Complete answer:
The Illbert bill aimed at, or one of the primary objectives of the respective bill was to give power to Indian judges and magistrates to exercise or preside over the cases involving the British subjects in India. This bill created an uproar within the British folk which were present in India and also in Britain.
- The government witnessed colossal amounts of tension between different sections of the society. As opposed by the European masses, the government came ahead with another provision, which is described as a ‘political compromise’.
- In the amended bill, the new provisions stated that it was quite important for the Indian judge or Indian magistrate to have the jury of $50\%$ Europeans, when dealing with the criminal cases pertaining to the British subjects.
- The amended bill also led to the opposition by the Europeans. The major tactics used by the opposition was the organised lobbying to force the government to withdraw the bill. Ilbert Bill was not passed as the government was forced to withdraw the Bill by the constant disapproval and outrage by the Europeans.
- On the other hand, just after the withdrawal of the Bill, the Indians rose against the decision as it was another extension of brutal colonisation of Indians by limiting their powers and excluding them from the major issues of governance.
- The withdrawal of Ilbert Bill leads to many questions and catalyses the theme of ‘racism’ and ‘colonisation’ - that how Europeans thought of Indians as an inferior race and demanded that the government empower their notions of racism and they did.

Note: It is important to note that the Bill was not withdrawn when it was introduced but after the amendment, Ilbert Bill was withdrawn. While answering the question, one can draw the pattern of colonisation in India through the Bills that have been passed from time to time.