Beginning of Colonial Rule in IndiaCB/VIII/2021 of 10

Subject: Social Science-

History

Std: VIII

Topic: Beginning of Colonial Rule in

India

1

Beginning of Colonial Rule in IndiaCB/VIII/2021 of 102

This looks like a memorial, but what is it about? where is

it located?

Visit slide no.3

Beginning of Colonial Rule in IndiaCB/VIII/2021 of 103

Does the engraving on this plaque answer your questions?

Beginning of Colonial Rule in IndiaCB/VIII/2021 of 104

Explore some of the remains that tell us about the other European powers that

came to India apart from the Portuguese.

Beginning of Colonial Rule in IndiaCB/VIII/2021 of 10

Timeline

Advent of Europeans• Vasco da Gama, a Portuguese explorer, discovered a new sea route to India in 1498. This

discovery paved the way for the Europeans to trade with India.

• The Portuguese were the first European traders to establish their control in the western coast of India. They had their trading settlements at Goa, Daman and Diu.

• By early seventeenth century, the commercial interests drew the Dutch to India. They established their trading centres at at Masulipatnam, Pulicat, Surat, Nagapatnam, and Cochin (Kochi).

5

Battle of PlasseyFour

Anglo-Mysore Wars

1744 CE–1763 CE 1775 CE–1818 CE

Carnatic Wars Battle of BuxarThree

Anglo-Maratha Wars

1767 CE–1799 CE1757 CE 1764 CE

Beginning of Colonial Rule in IndiaCB/VIII/2021 of 10

The English East India Company

• A group of English merchants formed the English East India Company for exploring the possibility of trade with East and Southeast Asia and India.

• On 31 December 1600 Queen Elizabeth I, the ruler of England, signed a Royal Charter granting monopoly to the East India Company to trade with East India.

• The Company sent Captain Hawkins to India but his visit to the court of the then MughalEmperor Jahangir did not bring any concrete results

• However, in 1613 Jahangir issued a firman (royal decree or order) which permitted the British to establish a factory permanently at Surat. Soon Sir Thomas Roe was chosen as the English ambassador and sent to the Mughal court to conclude a commercial treaty with the emperor. Before 1619, the English erected their factories at Surat, Agra, Ahmedabad, and Broach (Bharuch).

• In South India, the first English factory was opened at Masulipatnam in 1611.

• In the east, the factories were set up at Balasore in 1633 and at Hugli in 1651. Soon factories were also set up at Patna and Cassimbazar.

• The English established settlements in Madras (Chennai), Bombay (Mumbai) and Calcutta (Kolkata) which became prosperous cities in due course.

•

•

6

Beginning of Colonial Rule in IndiaCB/VIII/2021 of 10

• In 1639, the English established a fortified factory which came to be known as Fort St. George in Chennai.

• In 1661, the Company got Mumbai from the British Prince Charles II who received it from the Portuguese as a part of the dowry of Catherine of Braganza at an annual rental of £ 10.

• In 1690, Job Charnock established a factory at Sutanati which was fortified in 1696. In 1700, this fortified settlement was named as Fort William.

• In 1690, Job Charnock established a factory at Sutanati which was fortified in 1696. In 1700, this fortified settlement was named as Fort William.

• The French were the last to enter the competition for commercial gains.

• After realising the importance of Eastern commerce, they established their trading posts at Surat, Masulipatnam, Pondicherry (present-day Puducherry) and Chandernagore.

7

Beginning of Colonial Rule in IndiaCB/VIII/2021 of 108

These are the remains of the 16th century Dutch Factory in a village at Vengurla, Maharashtra

Beginning of Colonial Rule in IndiaCB/VIII/2021 of 109

The Dutch Cemetery in Fort Kochi, is the oldest European cemetery in India. The year 1724 is engraved on the

entrance pillar. The epitaphs and tombs, numbering 104, carry the authentic records of hundreds of people of Dutch

and British nationality.

Beginning of Colonial Rule in IndiaCB/VIII/2021 of 10

Struggle for supremacy

• All the companies After realising the importance of Eastern commerce, they established their trading posts at Surat, Masulipatnam, Pondicherry (present-day Puducherry) and Chandernagore.

• who came to India were interested in buying textiles and spices.

• Prices of all these goods increased due to the competition between the European trading companies.

• The only way to earn profits was by eliminating rival competitors. The rivalry urged the trading companies to acquire greater colonial possessions hence led to fierce battles between them.

• They often obstructed routes, sank or averted rival ships from moving. Hence, the companies started to carry out trade with arms and fortified their trading posts.

• The rivalry ousted the Portuguese and the Dutch from the Indian trade market, while the English and the French were left to compete with each other.

• The involvement of the British and the French in the European wars, the prevailing political conditions in the Deccan and the clash of trade interests brought the two trading companies in a state of war in South India.

10

Beginning of Colonial Rule in IndiaCB/VIII/2021 of 10

Carnatic wars

• The involvement of the British and the French in the European wars, the prevailing political conditions in the Deccan and the clash of trade interests brought the two trading companies in a state of war in South India.

• A series of wars commonly known as the Carnaticwars, were fought between the two.

• The wars lasted for nearly twenty years (1744–1763); put an end to the French power in India, and the English emerged victorious.

11

Beginning of Colonial Rule in IndiaCB/VIII/2021 of 1012

Beginning of Colonial Rule in IndiaCB/VIII/2021 of 10

Expansion of British Dominion in Bengal

• Bengal was the most fertile and the richest amongst India’s provinces that attracted the East India Company by the great prospects of a profitable trade it offered

• The firman of 1717 issued by the Mughal Emperor Farrukhsiyar confirmed the trading privileges of the Company subject to an annual payment of ` 3000.

• According to the firman, the Company was free to import and export British goods in Bengal without paying taxes.

• It also secured the right to issue dastaks or passes for the movement of such goods.

• The Company officials engaged in private trade were required to pay taxes similar to those by Indian merchants. However, the officials refused to pay tax on their private trade causing a huge loss of revenue to Bengal.

• The officials misused the power to issue dastaks in order to avoid taxes on their private trade.

• During that time, Bengal was ruled by Nawabs such as Murshid Quli Khan, Alivardi Khan and later by his grandson Siraj-ud-daulah.

• Siraj-ud-daulah ordered the English and the French to demolish their fortification at Calcutta and Chandernagore, respectively.

• The French obliged his order immediately but the British did not obey him.

• Siraj-ud-daulah, soon after his accession to the throne, repeated his orders and insisted on their immediate demolition. The refusal of the British to do so enraged him; he attacked the English factory at Cassimbazar and seized it. Soon, he captured Fort William after a feeble resistance by the British.

13

Beginning of Colonial Rule in IndiaCB/VIII/2021 of 10

Battle of Plassey

• The expelled English officials took refuge at Fulta (in Odisha) and waited for military aid to arrive.

• After hearing the capture of Calcutta, the Company officials at Madras sent a large military expedition under Robert Clive and Admiral Watson.

• Without any serious fighting, they recaptured Calcutta. The discomfited English exploited the internal situation in Bengal by intrigue and treachery.

• They conspired with Mir Jafar, the Commander-in-Chief of Siraj-ud-daulah and also won over the leading men of Nawab’s court such as Manikchand (the officer in charge of Calcutta), Omichand (a rich merchant) and Jagat Sheth (banker). With their support, the English forces defeated Siraj-ud-daulah in the Battle of Plassey fought in 1757.

• Siraj-ud-daulah was assassinated after the defeat at Plassey and the English proclaimed Mir Jafar as the Nawab of Bengal.

• The Company got free trading rights in the province of Bengal. Robert Clive and his colleagues acquired the zamindari of 24 Parganas and a large amount of money for the Company.

• The Battle of Plassey proved to be significant for the British as it paved the way for the British conquest of Bengal and eventually establish their foothold in the whole of India.

14

Beginning of Colonial Rule in IndiaCB/VIII/2021 of 10

Battle of Buxar

• The English became the real masters of Bengal. Mir Jafar was only a puppet in the hands of the English; in practice all the affairs were managed by Robert Clive

• Mir Jafar was unable to satisfy the Company’s heavy demands as he had purchased his position. When he protested, the Company deposed him and placed his son-in-law, Mir Qasim, as the Nawab of Bengal.

• Mir Qasim realised his dependence on the Company and tried to free himself from its control. Mir Qasim formed an alliance with Shuja-ud-daulah (the Nawab of Awadh) and

• Shah Alam II (the Mughal emperor). In 1764, the battle was fought at Buxarbetween the Company forces and the joint forces of Mir Qasim and his allies

• The Battle of Buxar resulted in the defeat of Mir Qasim, and Mir Jafar was reinstated

15

Beginning of Colonial Rule in IndiaCB/VIII/2021 of 10

Treaty Of Allahabad - 1765

• Robert Clive met Shah Alam II at Allahabad and obtained Diwani, that is, the right to collect revenue of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa (present-day Odisha).

• In return, the Company would pay him the tribute of twenty six lakhs rupees annually.

• The districts of Kora and Allahabad were taken away from the Nawab of Awadhand handed over to Emperor Shah Alam II.

• Awadh was restored to Shuja-ud-daulah on payment of Rupees fifty lakhs to the Company and he entered into the defensive alliance with the English.

• The grant of Diwani right facilitated the company to exploit vast revenue resources of Bengal.

16

Beginning of Colonial Rule in IndiaCB/VIII/2021 of 10

Dual system of government in Bengal

• The English had neither the inclination nor the capacity to take over the responsibility of the administration of the province.

• In 1765, Robert Clive introduced the Dual System of Government in Bengal.

• Under this system, the administration was divided between the Nawab and the Company.

• The Nawab had the responsibilities of law and order and of criminal jurisdiction whereas the Company was responsible for the collection of the revenues and dispensation of civil justice. This system helped the Company to remain free from real responsibility of the administration and still they held their power safely in Bengal.

• The Nawab had all the responsibilities but no resources to discharge it.

• As a result, Bengal suffered immensely and lapsed into a state of anarchy.

• Finally in 1772, Warren Hastings ended this Dual System of Government.

17

Beginning of Colonial Rule in IndiaCB/VIII/2021 of 1018

Victoria Memorial, one of the magnificent monument in Kolkata was built to commemorate Queen Victoria's 25-year reign in India. The monument is possibly the most awesome reminder of the British rule in India.

Beginning of Colonial Rule in IndiaCB/VIII/2021 of 1019

Marquis Joseph Francois Dupleix was appointed as the Governor General of all the French establishments in India in 1742. This Statue in Puducherry was commissioned by the French in recognition to his contribution.

Beginning of Colonial Rule in IndiaCB/VIII/2021 of 1020

Read the engraving on the memorial carefully. As a historian, write your inferences from this historical source in the notebook.