Categories: History

Ports and their Hinterlands in India (1700-1950 )

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<p>The interface between the land and the sea is generally seen in terms of the influence of the ocean upon the coastal land. The research papers in this collection however view the ports as integral parts of their hinterlands which in some cases extended far into the interior. Thus instead of being isolates looking seawards port-cities and port-towns were very much a part of the local regional and subcontinental economy society and polity. Conceptual and methodological issues have been discussed in the first essay. The remaining studies take up Indian ports port complexes and their hinterlands over a period of nearly four centuries spanning the Mughal Maratha British and postcolonial periods. The specific port-cities and port-towns studied are Calcutta Masulipatam Pondicherry and Cuddalore on the east coast and Chaul Surat Bombay Cambay Broach and Karachi on the west coast. Essays throw light on the morphology economy society and political organization of port-cities and their hinterlands The studies also bring out the bearing of political change and the process of state-formation on the character and functions of ports in the pre-colonial period and of colonial domination before and after the Industrial Revolution. These essays are based on a large variety of contemporary sources in English French Portuguese Marathi Gujarati and Rajasthani. Altogether the eighteen studies cut across the boundaries of the disciplines of history geography demography economics and sociology and suggest several fruitful approaches for the study of the port-cities and port-towns as well as Indian economy and society.</p>

Mirza Muhammad Haidar Dughlat Kurkan

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<p>Although valuable works have been written on the Mughal dynasty throughout the world Mirza Haidar and his achievements failed to get the attention they rightly deserved perhaps because he was constantly surrounded by a galaxy of luminaries hence the need for this humble corrective endeavour. With his multifarious contribution to the develop- ment of Kashmir during the short rule of a decade amidst political problems and internecine warfare Mirza Haidar Dughlat Kurkan born in Tashkent in 1499/1500 proved himself to be a remarkable man of many parts – a gallant general a good painter a calligrapher born poet excellent administrator and above all a great scholar and historian. Despite extensive patronage to scholars and historians no official history was compiled and his own magnum opus Tarikh-i Rashidi is far from being a focused court history memoir or autobiography. Nevertheless a man of his calibre was not doomed to be wiped out from pages of history as he had earned enough through his deeds to immortalize his name and fame. There are sufficiently rich accounts and stray references scattered throughout the huge treasure of manuscripts as this volume documents and also enough in his own book about himself and the region of Kashmir. Mirza Haidar’s worth as a historian of medieval era his wealth of cultural legacy which he bequeathed to the posterity his administrative skills and capabilities with which he regulated and improved administrative affairs in Central Asia and Kashmir and augmented the economic resources his artistic bent of mind which enriched not only the sphere of fine arts and handicrafts but added considerably to the field of urban development literature history and art will never be forgotten.</p>

Mughal Administration and the Zamindars of Bihar

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<p>This volume looks at the prominent chieftaincies of the suba of Bihar like Kharagpur Bhojpur Palamau Gidhaur Khokhra Darbhanga Champaran (Betia Raj) and Kalyanpur (Hathwa Raj) and presents the biographies of their chieftains to understand their relationship with the Mughal Empire from the period of Akbar to Aurangzeb and their power and position during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. It takes into consideration only those zamindars who enjoyed autonomous control over their possessions. The volume examines the origin and growth of these chieftaincies and the manner of their subjugation as well as the nature of overlordship established by the Mughals over them. It also discusses the career and achievements of the chiefs at the Mughal court particularly their appointments awards of mansabs promotions and so on. The study is divided into ten chapters including Introduction and Conclusion. After the introduction the next eight chapters are devoted to the study of chieftaincies. The ninth chapter is related to Hathwa Raj which also includes a brief study of other chieftaincies like Panchet Seor Garhi Ratanpur Ramnagar Ramgarh Bhagwanpur Chai and Kahalgaon. The volume provides a complex portrait of the chieftains of Bihar and their relationship with the Mughal Empire as well as their role in the consolidation and expansion of the Mughal Empire in India.</p>

Agrarian System of the Sikhs: Late Eighteenth and Early Nineteenth Century

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<p>This seminal study of late medieval Punjab under Sikh rule proceeds from certain assumptions. In addition to produce from land and revenues Agrarian System covers the social strata connected with agricultural production collection of revenues and control of land. The institutionalized landed relations having a life of their own cut across conventional periodization. This interplay between land and people is comprehended more meaningfully in a regional context viewed in a larger perspective. Ideology too has a bearing on acquisition and exercise of power. Thus emergence of over three scores of new centres of power created by the Sikhs in the late eighteenth century and their unification under Maharaja Ranjit Singh in the early-nineteenth reflects broad continuities in the area that remained under Sikh rule for the longest period. After a brief exposition of the political process and its ideological underpinnings the book focuses on the changing position of the vassal chiefs the jagirdars the pattidars (petty Sikh conquerors) the dharmarth or madad-i-ma’ash grantees and the proprietors and tenants in the context of land revenue its administration and landed rights. Significantly women figure in some of these situations. This study concludes with reference to continuities and changes since the Mughal times. The author has made an ample use of the Khalsa Darbar Records at the Punjab State Archives now at Chandigarh early British records at the National Archives of India Delhi besides official orders news- letters contemporary chronicles travel accounts revenue manuals and gazetteers.</p>

Monetary Foundations of The Raj

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<p>In the administration of colonial finances the monetary policy of the Imperial power relating to their dependencies had tremendous impact on the colonial economy. The British East India Company in 1835 was able to introduce a universal currency in all its Indian possessions which proved to be a landmark in the economic consolidation of the British rule in India. This volume presents an account of the monetary policies adopted by the British East India Company by which it was successful in secur­ing full control over money supply – the life blood of a monetized economy. This in turn affected almost every aspect of India's colonial economy and played a crucial role in laying the foundation for its colonial subjugation. In this unique anthology published studies along with unpublished archival records have been integrated into an overall theme. Together with a comprehensive bibliography-cum-list for further readings this volume is aimed to serve as a veritable reference tool.</p>

'Be Clear, Kashmir will Vote for India': Jammu & Kashmir 1947-1953.

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<p>The central point that this volume makes is that much of what happened in Jammu &amp; Kashmir in the critical first few years (1947-53) needs a more careful reassessment. It is argued that there were little voices of ordinary people that should have been heard but were ignored. The political discourse that took centre stage even as it appeared more assertive and representative of mass public opinion was however as is now clear only a clever and misleading political move. Much of the source material upon which the author has based his study has till now remained unstudied and uncited – rare hard to find books pamphlets articles in journals magazines and newspapers official and party reports and so on. The volume takes the reader back in time to a kind of ring side seat. Kashmir’s cultural and historical legacy the invasion the issue of the plebiscite the United Nations and the ceasefire the Praja Parishad and most important of all the political scene and its key players – Prime Minister Nehru Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee and Sheikh Abdullah. Based on the nature of its sources the volume breaks free of a stereotyped approach to understanding the origin of what we commonly term today as the ‘Kashmir problem’. The volume argues that contemporary views recorded as they are in the heat of the moment with natural spontaneity often contain hidden lines and new light. Not surprisingly contemporary versions tell us a story very different from mainstream conventional writings on Jammu &amp; Kashmir. This timely volume will radically influence the existing discourse on Jammu &amp; Kashmir.</p>

Understanding the Coins of Bengal: Ancient to Early Modern Period

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<p>This volume helps in understanding coins issued by different dynasties and kingdoms of Bengal from ancient to the early modern period. It provides illustrations of legends and in particular cases images or figures on both sides of coins. Though this work is not an attempt to document new information to the history of Bengal a couple of new numismatic discoveries have been dis­cussed in the volume. The focal point of the volume is on the coins that were in use as money in Bengal during Magadha Janapada Gupta dynasty Pala era Harikela and Akara kingdoms Sultanate and Nawabs’ period and finally the early East India Company period. A few coins of the neighbouring kingdoms have also been illustrated in the last chapter as they are supposed to have been in use in at least some parts of Bengal because of political topographical and/or other reasons.This volume would be of immense interest to scholars of South Asian numismatics and the history of the two Bengals.</p>

The Indian Army in World War I: 1914-1918

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<p>This volume tells the story of India’s contribution to the Great War – a war that resulted in the decimation of ten million soldiers and twenty million civilians the destruction of the youth of Europe and the Ottoman Russian and Austrian dynasties and hastened the demise of the British and French empires gave rise to Nazism Fascism Communism and is the progenitor of all the wars since then in Europe and the Middle East. India’s participation in this most destructive war had the support of Indian politicians of that time because Britain gave a commitment that if India wanted ‘Dominion Status’ then it would need to take part in this war. Seven expeditionary forces were sent to fight on the battlefields of Europe Asia and Africa. It is generally accepted that the first expeditionary force which was sent to Europe was largely responsible for stopping the German advance to Paris and the Channel ports. Over a million Indian soldiers were sent overseas of which 74000 were killed twice that number was wounded and 60000 declared missing. India was the largest contributor not only in men but also in money animals and equipment. Regrettably the story of the part played by the Indian soldier in this war has not been adequately told. Indian authors and the United Service Institution of India have attempted to fill this gap. This is one of the few books that has tried to redress this imbalance.</p>

Gallant Haryana: The First and Crucial Battlefield of AD 1857.

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<p>The book contains a narrative of the events of the First Indian War of Independence (1857-60) in modern Haryana and surrounding areas in a chronological order with entirely new contents derived from hitherto untouched sources such as massive number of original and first-hand reports of the British commanding officers and accompanying magistrates available in the contemporary newspapers and periodicals like the London Gazette Edinburgh Gazette Lahore Chronicle among many others archival files and government publications. Till today no historian has given an authentic narrative of even a single battle in Haryana whereas here full descriptions of 15 namely Odhan Khairekan Ballah Kharkhauda Rohtak Hisar Tosham Bhatol Mangali Jamalpur Raiseena Ghasera Nasibpur (Narnaul) Roopraka and Mahun battles have been provided. The description of sahibbas – moveable columns – fire blowing demons with European head and native tail which traversed Haryana for months together; will be of particular interest to the lay reader. Hitherto not even 12 names of the perpetrators of barbaric brutalities in Haryana were known whereas here 192 European military and civil officials have been identified who indulged in war crimes. The names of 1509 daredevils includ­ing 928 martyrs and 581 other prominent fighters of Haryana have been listed for the first time. The role of traitor native chiefs and rewardees has also been described in the book.</p>

Early Revenue History of Bengal and The Fifth Report, 1812

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<p>Early Revenue History of Bengal and the Fifth Report 1812 was the outcome of a series of four lectures delivered at the Dacca College by the distinguished Bengali civil servant F.D. Ascoli. It embodies the text of the Fifth Report on the affairs of the East India Company by the Select Committee of the House of Commons appointed with a view to form the charter of 1813 and also careful and detailed summary of the discussions that led up to Lord Cornwallis's Permanent Revenue Settlement of Bengal (including Behar). The condensed arguments of Mr. James Grant Sir John Shore and Lord Cornwallis on the subject of the Permanent Settlement enable us to see the objectives desired for in the Permanent Revenue Settlement. The book also affords valuable glimpses on the methods adopted for carrying out the settlement and working it successfully in the early days when the zamindars themselves did not look upon it as a boon and the sale of estates for arrears were frequent. Ascoli's excellent and dispassionate account of the Company's difficulties and the unsuccessful remedies that were from time to time applied to meet them disposes of pet theories that are sometimes advanced with regard to the Permanent Settlement. Mr. Ascoli's masterly analysis and partial text of the Fifth Report from the Select Committee 1812 will be of material assistance to the student of revenue history in Bengal and of Colonial India generally.</p>