Charles Michel vs Lord William Bentinck

Charles Michel was elected President of the European Council, succeeding Donald Tusk. He became the youngest person to hold the office, tasked with chairing EU summits and representing the EU externally.

Michel coordinated EU leaders' response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including travel restrictions, vaccine procurement, and economic recovery. He chaired multiple video summits and pushed for a coordinated approach among member states.

Michel brokered a deal among EU leaders on the

Michel traveled to Kyiv to meet President Zelenskyy, demonstrating EU solidarity with Ukraine during the Russian invasion. The visit underscored EU support for Ukraine's sovereignty and its candidate status for EU membership.

Michel advocated for accelerating EU enlargement to include Western Balkan countries, proposing a 2030 target date. He argued that enlargement was a strategic investment in European stability and security.

Bentinck implemented financial reforms to reduce the East India Company's debt, including cutting military and administrative expenses. He abolished the practice of double batta (extra allowance) for officers and reduced the salaries of civil servants. These measures stabilized the Company's finances but caused resentment among British officials.

Lord William Bentinck, as Governor-General of India, passed Regulation XVII in December 1829, banning the practice of sati (widow immolation) throughout British India. The reform was supported by Indian reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Roy and faced opposition from conservative Hindus. It marked a major social reform in British India.

Bentinck launched a campaign to suppress the Thuggee cult, a network of organized criminals who robbed and murdered travelers. Under the direction of William Sleeman, thousands of Thugs were captured and executed or imprisoned. This operation significantly reduced the threat and established British authority in central India.

Bentinck supported the English Education Act of 1835, which allocated funds for the promotion of Western education in India. The act was influenced by Thomas Babington Macaulay's Minute on Indian Education and aimed to create a class of Indians who were Indian in blood but English in taste and intellect.