HISTORY OF INDIA

EUROPEANS IN INDIA

Indian exposure to the Europeans was a result of the discovery of a sea route to India. Old

trade routes existed since the ancient times. The invasion of Alexander boosted trade contacts

outside India. Opening of new trade routes, through Afghanistan, Central Asia and the Caspian

Sea till the Black sea also favoured European entry into India. Another trade route was

through Persia and Syria till Alexandria on the Mediterranean coast of Egypt. The route

through the Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf and the Red Sea was the most convenient of all.

Through these routes goods from India went to Europe and back. The rise of the Arabs

witnessed a block of the trade in the 7th century. Besides this the Turks were gaining grounds

over the Arabs. The shortage in the supply of Asian goods caused a rise of price of these

commodities in Europe. This forced the European countries to seek new sea routes to India.

The Portuguese

Owing to the favorable position of Portugal with regards to access to sea and its experiences in

sea-faring, a new sea route to India, west of Africa was discovered. Encouragement by Prince

Henry of Portugal who loved navigation and exploration also further boosted the thrill to seek

newer lands. By 1481 Bartholomew Diaz reaches the Cape of Good Hope in Southern Africa.

In 1497 Vasco da Gama another Portuguese navigator sailed along the Atlantic coast of Africa

rounded the Cape of Good Hope and reached Mozambique in the Indian Ocean.

On April, 1498 he reached the western coast of India at Calicut in the south Indian state of

Kerala.

He was received by the Zamorin ruler of Calicut who permitted establishment of trading

centres at Calicut, Cochin and Cannanore. Fuelled by the instigation of the Arabs the

Zamorins attacked the Portuguese but was defeated. The Portuguese thus became supreme in

the west coast. Almeida was the first Portuguese Governor in India. He was determined

to make Portugal powerful at sea. From 1509 to 1515 Albequerque became the second

governor of the Indian Territory held by Portugal. He aimed at occupying places for trade,

developing a group of intermixed population who would rightfully claim possession of the

Portuguese territory in India. Building of forts was another effort of his to consolidate the

Portuguese position in India. In 1510 he conquered Goa from the sultan of Bijapur. He

established a factory at Colombo in Ceylon and fort at Cochin. With his able administration he

increased the Portuguese influence in India. In 1534 the Portuguese occupied Bassein and in

1538 Daman too. In the same year the Portuguese started constructing a factory near Hugli.

After a century the Portuguese power began to decline owing to factors like incompetent

successors of Albequerque, defective administration, religions intolerance, resistance from the

 

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Mughals, lack of financial support from home, conditions arising of the union of Portugal with

Spain under Philip II in 1580. Besides this the inefficient trading methods, discovery of Brazil

and above all the emergence of strong European competitions especially the Dutch English

also hastened the Portuguese decline.

The Dutch

After the Portuguese, the Dutch rose to power in the South East Asia. Their contact with India

was through settlements at Nagapatnam and Cinsura in Bengal. The Dutch East India

Company declined under the pressure from the English. The British navy was much superior

to the Dutch and finally the English controlled the Dutch possessions in India.

ENGLISH EAST INDIA COMPANY

In the sixteenth century the English started trade with the east. The

English had to pay high prices for goods bought from the east. Lured by

the Portuguese profits the English too wished to have their share of

wealth and profits. Attaining power in this area would result in getting

goods at prices they decide. Besides this the defeat of the Spanish

Armada had made England the mistress of the seas. In 1500 a group of

merchants under the Chairman ship of Lord Mayor formed an

association in London to trade with India. In 1600 Queen Elizabeth

granted a charter to the governor at a company of merchants to trade

freely with the countries of the east. Voyages were made to South East

Asia to trade in spices. Attention towards India was diverted due to the

Dutch influence in the Spice Islands and getting raw materials for the English. The vast Indian

mainland could be a market for the finished goods. The voyage to India was led by Captain

Hawkins. He landed at the west coast of Surat and succeeded to get some trade concession for

the company from Emperor Jahangir. He also secured permission to set up a

factory at Surat. The Portuguese influence in the Mughal Court proved a

obstacle to the English trade. In 1612 Captain Best defeated the Portuguese

fleet near Surat thus reducing their influence. He secured permission for

building of a factory at Surat. In 1615 King James I of England sent Sir

Thomas Roe as his ambassador to the court of Jahangir, and secured

permission for the company to set up factories. Thus factories were set up at

Ahmedabad, Broach and Agra.

In 1661 the company obtained Bombay from Charles II and converted it to a flourishing centre

of trade. By 1687, it was the most well established settlement of the Company on the west

coast of India. In 1611 factories were set up on the east coast at Masaulipatam. In 1540 Fancis

Day built a fortified factory called Fort St. George beside which the town of Madras

 

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flourished. English settlements rose in Orissa and Bengal. In 1633, in the Mahanadi delta of

Hariharpur at Balasore in Orissa, factories were set up. In 1650 Gabriel Boughton an

employee of the Company obtained a license for trade in Bengal. An English factory was set

up in 1651 at Hugli. Various factors besides the lack of a political authority in India

encouraged the company to unleash a vigorous policy of trade.

The disintegrating Mughal Empire had excited the English. At a petty pretext during the rule

of Aurangazeb, the British brought a fleet from England and attacked Hugli. Aurangazeb

attacked the English settlements and, captured their settlements at Patna, Cassim Bazar,

Masaulipatam and Vizagapatanam. The superior English navy avoided the progress of the

Mughals and found it wise to conclude peace on the conditions imposed by Aurangazeb. In

1690 Job Charnock established a factory. In 1698 the factory was fortified and called Fort

William. The villages of Sutanati, Kalikata and Gobindpore were developed into a single area

called Calcutta. In 1717 Emperor Farukhiyar permitted duty free trade. In Gujarat and Madras

too they secured concessions. The company at Bombay minted rupees to be circulated in

India.

Owing to the economic factors at England and the discredited submission to the terms of

Aurangazeb, a rival trading company was established called General Society. A compromise

between the two companies on common trade saved the East India Company in 1702.

FRENCH EAST INDIA COMPANY

At a period when Europe witnessed an upsurge in discoveries and colonization, the

Portuguese, the Dutch and the English were on their mission for contacts with India. France

who competed with England in many respects also took to installing trade contacts with India

and the east. In 1611 Louis XII granted monopoly to a company to pursue their quest, but did

not achieve any progress. In 1664 Louis XIV granted another permission to start trade with

India. The trade with India was a matter of prestige as the European politics was dominated by

rivalries in the eighteenth century. In India Anglo French conflict started with the Austrian

war of succession which ended in the seven years war. Pondicherry was the hub of French

settlements. Other French factories and settlements were at Masulipatanam, Karikal, Mahi,

Surat and Chandernagore. The struggle for establishing supremacy in trade resulted in wars

between the English and the French in the Deccan. The first Carnatic war was fought between

1746-48. The second Carnatic war was fought between 1748-54 and the third Carnatic war

was between 1758-63. This was the war that sealed the fateof the French possessions in India.

Owing to Commercial superiority and better financial position, private ownership of the

English company and support by the British government, the East India Company flourished

in India. Superiority of the English officers, besides this the French continental

preoccupations, the superior English navy and the impact of English domination in Bengal, the

recall of Duplex and the blunders of Count de Lally contributed to the French failure in India.

Thus the struggle for colonial supremacy results the English having overcome the European

 

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obstacle. Little did then one realizes that this was the beginning of a diplomatic policy that

would reign supreme in India for the next two centuries.

BATTLES OF PLASSEY AND BUXAR

The British with their superior naval power support from home were the next who like the

numerous invaders and adventurers of the past would establish their dominion in India. The

Diplomatic moves of East India Company were clever. The favorable conditions created by

the disintegration of the Mughal Empire invited the English to seek political power in India.

The political aspirations of the company bore fruit from Bengal. Owing to the incompetence

of Siraj-ud Daula the Nawab of Bengal, he had lost the loyalty of his nobles who conspired

against him. The misuse of the privileges given to the English and the fortification of the

settlement invoked the displeasure of the Nawab who ordered their demolition. The inhuman

act of the Nawabs subordinate resulting in the Black hole tragedy resulted in involvement of

Robert Clive and Admiral Watson in an attempt to subdue the Nawab. After the capture of

Calcutta by Robert Clive he entered into a treaty which proved the only advantageous solution

for both at present. The diplomatic designs of Clive bore fruit when he learnt of the

discontented nobles of the Nawab who were ready to go against the authority of the Nawab

.On the 23rd of the June 1757 the armies of the Nawab Siraj-ud-daula and Robert Clive met in

a battle at Plassey. The Nawab's nobles who deflected as decided with the English did not

support the Nawab, leading to his defeat. This was the major achievement of the English that

was to act as the foundation of British rule in India. The English put Mir Jafar as the Nawab

with the jurisdiction of government under the Company's control. The company got the

territories around Calcutta. It raised the prestige of the company who now was able to use this

to influence the French and their support at home. It also started a political gamble by the

company officials who now conspired against Mir Jafar and promised the throne to Mir qasim

in return for money. Mir jafar was disposed by the English and Mir qasim was given the

administration of Bengal. Mir qasim knew well the designs of the English. He was an able

administrator and sought to improve the finance of the state, while meeting the demands of the

company. His quarrels with the company over duties and articles and trade exposed his

intention to break off from the yoke of British dominance. This ultimately resulted in the battle

of Buxar in 1764. A fierce battle resulted. The superior military power of the English had

confirmed the English victory and thus they became the masters of Bengal and now were the

sole contenders for the control of the whole country.

EUROPEANS IN INDIA

Indian exposure to the Europeans was a result of the discovery of a sea route to India. Old

trade routes existed since the ancient times. The invasion of Alexander boosted trade contacts

outside India. Opening of new trade routes, through Afghanistan, Central Asia and the

Caspian Sea till the Black sea also favoured European entry into India. Another trade route

 

(6) of (7)

was through Persia and Syria till Alexandria on the Mediterranean coast of Egypt. The route

through the Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf and the Red Sea was the most convenient of all.

Through these routes goods from India went to Europe and back. The rise of the Arabs

witnessed a block of the trade in the 7th century. Besides this the Turks were gaining grounds

over the Arabs. The shortage in the supply of Asian goods caused a rise of price of these

commodities in Europe. This forced the European countries to seek new sea routes to India.

The Portuguese

Owing to the favorable position of Portugal with regards to access to sea and its experiences in

sea-faring, a new sea route to India, west of Africa was discovered. Encouragement by Prince

Henry of Portugal who loved navigation and exploration also further boosted the thrill to seek

newer lands. By 1481 Bartholomew Diaz reaches the Cape of Good Hope in Southern Africa.

In 1497 Vasco da Gama another Portuguese navigator sailed along the Atlantic coast of Africa

rounded the Cape of Good Hope and reached Mozambique in the Indian Ocean.

On April, 1498 he reached the western coast of India at Calicut in the south Indian state of

Kerala. He was received by the Zamorin ruler of Calicut who permitted establishment of

trading centres at Calicut, Cochin and Cannanore. Fuelled by the instigation of the Arabs the

Zamorins attacked the Portuguese but was defeated. The Portuguese thus became supreme in

the west coast. Almeida was the first Portuguese Governor in India. He was determined to

make Portugal powerful at sea. From 1509 to 1515 Albequerque became the second governor

of the Indian Territory held by Portugal. He aimed at occupying places for trade, developing a

group of intermixed population who would rightfully claim possession of the Portuguese

territory in India. Building of forts was another effort of his to consolidate the Portuguese

position in India. In 1510 he conquered Goa from the sultan of Bijapur. He established a

factory at Colombo in Ceylon and fort at Cochin. With his able administration he increased the

Portuguese influence in India. In 1534 the Portuguese occupied Bassein and in 1538 Daman

too. In the same year the Portuguese started constructing a factory neat Hugli. After a century

the Portuguese power began to decline owing to factors like incompetent successors of

Albequerque, defective administration, religions intolerance, resistance from the Mughals,

lack of financial support from home, conditions arising of the union of Portugal with Spain

under Philip II in 1580. Besides this the inefficient trading methods, discovery of Brazil and

above all the emergence of strong European competitions especially the Dutch English also

hastened the Portuguese decline.

The Dutch

After the Portuguese, the Dutch rose to power in the South East Asia. Their contact with India

was through settlements at Nagapatnam and Cinsura in Bengal. The Dutch East India

Company declined under the pressure from the English. The British navy was much superior

to the Dutch and finally the English controlled the Dutch possessions in India.

 

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INDIAN NATIONAL MOVEMENT

Indian aspirations to remain as an independent entity has always remained scattered till the

second half of the 19th century. These could always be subdued owing to the lack of an

organised effort against the well organised masters. The real organised effort to achieve the

political social and economic liberty was felt only after the formation of the Indian National

Congress. The first reason for evolving a feeling of nationalism was the political unification of

India. Before the advent of the British the subcontinent presented a collage of selfish

kingdoms under rival chiefs and rulers.

The coming of the British brought western influence which inspired western education. The

liberal and radical ideas of Europe influenced the Indian and created a new educated class. The

use of western education and English as a language for communication brought closer the

population in various regions. Thus it helped in exchange of ideas and aspirations for liberty

from the foreign rule. The socio- religious movements brought forth by various social

reformers all over the country inspired national consciousness to improve their social

condition and invoked the spirit of patriotism in the Indian masses.

The promotion of vernacular language and its use in the Indian and Vernacular papers infused

a feeling of nationalism in the people. Throughout the British rule in India there was a section

of Indians who were discontented and exploited politically, socially economically and

spiritually. They took up the mission of subduing the British diplomacy and hoped to revive

self-rule. The development of the means of communication eased traveling and exchange of

ideas that inspired freedom.

The Indian nationalism witnesses a development in phases. In the First Phase ever since the

evolution of Indian National Congress, a moderate movement with the will to co-operate for

the grant of a better living atmosphere prevailed. They believed in the gradual realization of

their national goals.

In the second phase owing to the repression of the moderate policy of the Congress by the the

rise of extremism resulted. Steered by a young and vigorous they resorted to reaction and

conflict for achieving their goals. Boycott, resistances and demonstrations were their political

weapons.

The third phase of the Indian national movement was dominated by the Gandhian ideology;

non-violence, non co-operation and civil disobedience movement. All these, at that period of

time worked or failed, but were revoked and modified and reapplied ultimately resulting in the

freedom in 1947.

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