Proclamation by the Queen to the People of India. In the aftermath of the Indian Rebellion (1857-58); the British Parliament passed the Government of India Act; transferring the rights and administrative authority of the East India Company to the British Crown. These governmental changes were announced to the 'Princes; Chiefs and People of India' in the form of this proclamation issued by Queen Victoria (r. 1837-1901). Seeking to maintain peace after the Rebellion; the whole tenor of the Proclamation was one of generosity and benevolence. It granted 'the Natives of Our Indian Territories' the same rights as 'all Our other Subjects' and; among other things; promised to support religious toleration; to recognise the 'Customs of India'; to end racial discrimination and to ensure that 'all shall alike enjoy the equal impartial protection of the Law'. By recognising Indians as British subjects; and extending to them rights consistent with that status; the Proclamation was widely heralded by Indian subjects; including Mohandas Gandhi (d. 1948); as their Magna Carta.