Humanitarian Intervention or Political Convenience? Runaway Slaves and Abolition of Slavery in Colonial Western India.

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  • Author(s): Patil, Avanish
  • Source:
    ICFAI Journal of History & Culture. Jul2009, Vol. 3 Issue 3/4, p67-79. 13p.
  • Additional Information
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    • Abstract:
      It is well known that the British ended slavery in India. It is generally believed that they abolished slavery and freed all slaves in India by passing Act V of 1843. What is not known is that there were many cases even during the latter half of the 19th century in which people were living together in a relationship recognized by both sides as of master and slave. By the joint operation of Act V of 1843 and the Indian Penal Code, the British did not free the slaves, but merely deprived slavery of all its legal incidents and placed the slave in a position that he may be free if he chose to exert his will. These legal provisions were made so that slavery in India would wither away in course of time. The model of 'gradual emancipation from slavery' was developed by the British in response to the political exigencies they faced in India. This paper explores the evolution of the model in the Bombay Presidency with reference to cases of runaway slaves. It tries to show how the vested interest and political convenience of the British influenced the making of British policy towards slavery in the Bombay Presidency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]