Adam Smith, in his book “An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations” published in March 1776, discussed India and the East India Company. Adam Smith (1723-1790) made copious notes about India and the British East India Company’s presence and impact on the contemporary Indian economy.
The East India Company tried to use marble portrait statues commissioned by the company in 1760, depicting men dressed as Romans, to lionize Robert Clive. However, their attempt failed, as less than a decade later, Robert Clive’s reputation as a hero had collapsed. During Robert Clive’s lifetime, the East India
Rani Velu Nachiyar was the Tamil queen who led an army of women against the East India Company. “She will be amongst the best French speakers of the land, my lord.” The confidence in Jose de Pray’s voice was in stark contrast to his lean frame. The frailty of his
An 18th-century East India Company merchant named John Pybus offers advice on tax dodging and bribery in his notes. East India Company merchant John Pybus compiled notes about the practicalities of trade in various ports and settlements of the Indian Ocean in the 18th century. Among lists of prices, exchange
The “essential” aspects of Indian urban planning are always the subject of public debate whenever our city is faced with a major crisis, such as the urban flooding we experienced recently in Chennai. As urban planning and its modern applications are painted as India’s culprit for “dysfunctional” cities, it is
How foreign funds are the new East India Company that are colonising successful Indian startups.
The media has been in an overdrive projecting US Presidential candidate Joe Biden’s connections to India. But did you know that Joe Biden’s great, great, great, great, great grandfather worked for the East India Company? Not many are aware that after the so called dissolution of the British Empire, the
The Indian Administrative, Civil and Judicial Services were created by the East India Company to administer loot of the colonies of British Empire. The East India Company College was specifically setup to train these officers. The college was founded by Charles Grant who made his fortune taking over local businesses
Called the Inland Customs Line, the East India Company divided North and South India with a 4000 kms long living wall of trees to maintain its Salt Monopoly. This wall of trees was 8 to 12 feet in height and 4 to 14 feet thick. After the Great Wall of
