I wish all Taxpayers who contribute to our Country’s development a very Happy Income Tax Day! Let’s take India forward together!
It was on 24the July, 1860 that Sir James Wilson introduced income tax in India to raise revenue to a run a cash crunched Empire reeling under the aftermath of the First War of Indian Independence of 1857.
What started as a tool to help a parasitic Empire, Direct Taxes are now the back bone of the administration of our country. It drives the major share of revenue collected and is the force behind the India Story. Income Tax department has also grown a lot since the time of James Wilson (The department did not exist during his time) and now it is the flag bearer in the countries fight against Black Money and in Tax Payer Services.
I had chosen Kolkata for my On the Job Training for the very reason that the tax administration in the country started from Kolkata and somehow the history buff in me kept telling me to go there. One of the first places that I went to in Kolkata were the Scottish and English Cemeteries of Park Street (Mother Theresa Sarani).
There I saw James Wilson, resting in Peace, without knowing how much income tax has grown in India. He might not even have thought that after 159 years of his introducing the income tax, an officer of the department would come to visit him out of curiousity and a sort of reverence. (The department holds customary visits every year to the cemetary. I went there during the odd time of the year when Sir James Wilson was not expecting any visitors).
In Civil Service we are told to call on all important dignitaries when you are posted to a station. In some sense, I had called on the originator of Income Tax ;)
The marble cenotaph is a sight to behold. Let me not waste a lot of words. It would be unfair of me to not show the subscribers of this page the humble beginnings of income tax and the man behind it. So here you go!
