Describe the Fifth Report produced by the select committee on English East India Company in 1813 in the British Parliament.

The Fifth Report was submitted to the British Parliament in 1813. It was called the Fifth Report as it was the fifth in a series of reports about the working of East India Company. The core issue of the Fifth Report was the administration and activities of the East India Company. This report had 1002 pages. About 800 pages were in the form of appendices which included petitions of zamindars and ryots, reports of Collectors, statistical tables on revenue returns and the official notes on the revenue and judicial administration of Bengal and Madras.

Objectives of the Report : Many groups of people in Britain were not happy with the working of East India Company in India. They opposed the monopoly enjoyed by East India Company over trade with India and China. Many British traders wanted a share in Company’s trade in India. They emphasised that the Indian market should be opened for British manufactures. Many political groups even argued that the conquest of Bengal benefitted only the East India Company and not the British nation as a whole. They highlighted the misrule and maladministration by East India Company. As a result, the British Parliament passed several acts in the late 18th century to regulate and control the rule of East India Company in India.

It even asked the Company to submit regular reports on its administrative activities in India. The Fifth Report was such a report. It was produced by select committee. It was concerned with the nature of Company’s rule in India. It contained an invaluable evidence against the rule of East India Company in India. It brings out the pitiable condition in rural Bengal in the late 18th century.

Basis of Criticism : The Fifth Report has been carefully examined by the critics. They find the following lacunas in it:

(i) It has many unconvincing arguments and evidences.

(ii) Its purpose was only to criticise the maladministration of the East India Company.

(iii) It exaggerated the collapse of traditional zamindari power.

(iv) It stated in hyperbolic words that the zamindars were losing their land. The land of the most of the farmers was auctioned.

(v) The Company did not collect revenue with punctuality.