Trade Politics and Society : The Indian Milieu in the Early Modern Era

The essays in the volume deal with a potpourri of Indian history in the early modern era. They unfold many facets of the trade, politics and society of India and offer new perspectives which will help dispel some of the misconceptions prevailing for long. The first part of the book is concerned mainly with Bengal trade and commerce wherein after an extensive survey of the maritime trade in the Indian Ocean, the role of the Armenians as also their unique contribution in Dhaka’s commercial and social life in the eighteenth century has been studied in depth for the first time.

It also showcases how merchants were the conduit of close Indo-Persian relations in the early modern era. The essays take up issues like the role of hundis in the commercial life, and the problem of multiple currencies. Part 2 on Politics establishes beyond doubt that Plassey was not an Indian-born conspiracy, that without active British help and involvement, the conspiracy would not have matured enough to bring about the revolution. Again, the volume will establish that the Dharma Sabha of Calcutta had no role whatsoever in spreading the rumour of the greased cartridge, and that the Surat merchants could even dare fight the mighty Mughals quite successfully. Several essays deal with societal aspects like sati, portray the Murshidabad Begums in black and white, trace the evolution of a composite culture, examine the birth and expansion of Orientalism, explore how far poetical narratives reflect historical reality and finally, trace the rise and growth of the Calcutta High Court. All in all the volume will be an asset for historians and economists working in the field. (jacket)