7.3 The English East India Company

• Formed in 1600 CE under a Royal Charter from Queen Elizabeth I of England, granting monopoly trading rights with the East.
• Captain William Hawkins visited the Mughal court of Jahangir (1608–1611 CE) seeking trading concessions — limited initial success.
• Sir Thomas Roe, official ambassador of King James I, visited Jahangir's court (1615–1619 CE) and successfully secured permission to establish a factory at Surat and trading rights across the Mughal Empire — a foundational moment for English trade in India.
• Key factories/settlements established:
  • Surat (1613 CE) — first English factory in India.
  • Madras (Chennai) — Fort St. George built (1639-40 CE), obtained from a local Vijayanagara-successor chieftain; became the headquarters of the English Company's southern (Madras Presidency) operations.
  • Bombay — acquired from Portugal (1661 dowry, transferred/leased to the Company in 1668 CE); became headquarters of the Bombay Presidency.
  • Calcutta — English factory established by Job Charnock at the village cluster of Sutanuti, Kalikata, and Gobindpur (1690 CE); Fort William built there — became headquarters of the Bengal Presidency (eventually the most important Presidency).
• Company gradually obtained trading privileges/farmans from Mughal authorities, notably the Farrukhsiyar's Farman (1717 CE) — granted the Company duty-free trade in Bengal in exchange for a fixed annual payment — a hugely significant economic concession, often called the "Magna Carta" of the English Company in India, later widely misused/abused, contributing to friction with Bengal's Nawabs.

Anglo-French Rivalry and the Carnatic Wars (Setting up Plassey)

• French East India Company — founded in 1664 CE under Jean-Baptiste Colbert (minister of King Louis XIV); established key settlements at Surat, Masulipatnam, Chandernagore (Bengal, 1673), and Pondicherry (1674 CE — became French India's capital/headquarters, developed by Francois Martin).
• Anglo-French rivalry in India (echoing their broader European/global conflicts) played out through a series of wars mainly in South India (the Carnatic region) — known as the Carnatic Wars:
  • First Carnatic War (1746–1748 CE): Triggered by the War of Austrian Succession in Europe; French Governor Joseph François Dupleix captured Madras from the English (1746); war ended via the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (1748 CE), which restored Madras to the English (in exchange for the French fort of Louisbourg in North America) — no clear territorial change in India, but demonstrated Dupleix's ambition and introduced use of trained sepoy armies and interference in local succession politics as tools of European expansion.
  • Second Carnatic War (1749–1754 CE): Both English and French backed rival claimants in succession disputes for the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Nawab of Carnatic (Arcot) — Dupleix's candidates initially succeeded, but the English (notably through Robert Clive's famous defence of Arcot, 1751 CE) turned the tide in favour of their own candidates (Muhammad Ali as Nawab of Carnatic). Dupleix was recalled to France (1754 CE); war ended with the Treaty of Pondicherry (1754 CE).
  • Third Carnatic War (1756–1763 CE): Linked to the global Seven Years' War between Britain and France; the decisive Battle of Wandiwash (1760 CE) (English under Sir Eyre Coote decisively defeat the French under Count Lally) effectively ended French political/military ambitions in India, confirming English dominance — though this falls slightly after our 1757 cut-off, it is the direct continuation of the Anglo-French story that began earlier.

The Battle of Plassey (23 June 1757 CE) — Conventional Start of British Colonial Dominance

• Fought between the English East India Company (led by Robert Clive) and Siraj-ud-Daulah, the Nawab of Bengal, near the village of Plassey (Palashi) on the banks of the Bhagirathi River, Bengal.
• Background: Siraj-ud-Daulah, suspicious of growing English fortifications and abuse of trading privileges (Farrukhsiyar's Farman misuse) at Calcutta, attacked and captured Fort William/Calcutta in 1756 CE — the infamous (and historically disputed/exaggerated) "Black Hole of Calcutta" incident is associated with this episode. Clive and Admiral Watson retook Calcutta in early 1757 CE.
• Clive conspired with disaffected Bengali nobles/generals, most notably Mir Jafar (Siraj-ud-Daulah's own commander-in-chief), along with financiers like Jagat Seth and others, promising Mir Jafar the position of Nawab in exchange for betrayal on the battlefield.
• In the actual battle, Mir Jafar's forces (a large portion of Siraj's army) remained largely inactive/withdrew, ensuring an easy English victory despite being significantly outnumbered.
• Siraj-ud-Daulah was captured while fleeing and executed shortly after by Mir Jafar's son, Miran.
• Mir Jafar was installed as the new (puppet) Nawab of Bengal by the English — marking the beginning of indirect, and soon direct, English political control over Bengal — the richest and most productive province of the Mughal Empire.
• Significance: The Battle of Plassey is conventionally regarded as the foundational event of British colonial/political dominance in India — it transformed the English East India Company from a trading corporation into a territorial political power, setting in motion the process that would culminate in British control over virtually the entire subcontinent by the mid-19th century. (The subsequent Battle of Buxar, 1764 CE, against a combined force of the Nawab of Bengal, Nawab of Awadh, and the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II, further cemented this dominance and led to the grant of Diwani rights over Bengal, Bihar, Odisha in 1765 CE — beyond our period, but the essential next step.)

Key Facts / Quick Revision Points — Europeans & Plassey

• English East India Company founded 1600 CE (Elizabeth I charter).
• Surat factory — 1613; Madras (Fort St. George) — 1639-40; Bombay — 1668 (from Portugal); Calcutta (Fort William) — Job Charnock, 1690.
• Farrukhsiyar's Farman (1717) — duty-free trade concession — "Magna Carta" of the Company in India.
• French East India Company — founded 1664; Pondicherry — French HQ.
• Carnatic Wars: 1st (1746-48, Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle), 2nd (1749-54, Robert Clive's defence of Arcot 1751, Treaty of Pondicherry), 3rd (1756-63, Battle of Wandiwash 1760 — decisive English victory over French).
• Battle of Plassey — 23 June 1757 CE — Robert Clive (English) vs Siraj-ud-Daulah (Nawab of Bengal); Mir Jafar's betrayal decisive; Mir Jafar installed as puppet Nawab.
• Battle of Plassey = conventional start of British political/colonial dominance in India.

IMPORTANT ONE-LINERS FOR QUICK REVISION

1. Muhammad bin Qasim invaded Sindh in 712 CE and defeated Raja Dahir at the Battle of Aror.
2. Mahmud of Ghazni raided the Somnath Temple in 1025 CE; his court historian was Al-Biruni (author of Tahqiq-i-Hind).
3. First Battle of Tarain (1191) — Prithviraj Chauhan defeats Muhammad Ghori; Second Battle of Tarain (1192) — Ghori defeats and kills Prithviraj Chauhan.
4. Qutbuddin Aibak founded the Delhi Sultanate (1206); started the Qutub Minar, completed by Iltutmish.
5. Raziya Sultan was the only woman ruler of the Delhi Sultanate (1236–1240).
6. Balban introduced the theory of kingship as "Zil-i-Ilahi" (Shadow of God) and the practices of Sijda and Paibos.
7. Alauddin Khalji's market reforms fixed prices via Shahna-i-Mandi; his general Malik Kafur led Deccan campaigns.
8. Muhammad bin Tughlaq shifted the capital to Daulatabad (1327) and introduced token currency (1329–30) — both failed.
9. Ibn Battuta, the Moroccan traveller, served as Qazi of Delhi under Muhammad bin Tughlaq and wrote "Rehla."
10. Firoz Shah Tughlaq brought Ashokan pillars to Delhi and dug irrigation canals; reimposed Jizya strictly.
11. Timur invaded and sacked Delhi in 1398 CE, devastating the Tughlaq Sultanate.
12. Sikandar Lodi founded the city of Agra in 1504 CE.
13. Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi at the First Battle of Panipat (1526), founding the Mughal Empire.
14. Babur defeated Rana Sanga at the Battle of Khanwa (1527).
15. Sher Shah Suri introduced the "Rupiya" currency, the Patta-Qabuliyat land revenue system, and built the Grand Trunk Road.
16. Akbar abolished the Jizya (1564) and pilgrim tax; married Rajput princesses as part of his conciliatory Rajput policy.
17. The Mansabdari system (Zat and Sawar ranks) was the backbone of Mughal military-administrative organization.
18. Raja Todar Mal devised the Zabti/Dahsala land revenue system under Akbar.
19. Akbar founded Din-i-Ilahi in 1582 CE; built the Ibadat Khana at Fatehpur Sikri (1575).
20. Battle of Haldighati (1576) — Mughal forces (Man Singh) vs Rana Pratap of Mewar; Mewar not fully subdued.
21. Jahangir installed the "Zanjir-i-Adl" (Chain of Justice); Sir Thomas Roe visited his court (1615–1619).
22. Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal (for Mumtaz Mahal) and shifted the capital to Shahjahanabad (Red Fort, Jama Masjid).
23. Dara Shikoh translated the Upanishads into Persian as "Sirr-i-Akbar."
24. Aurangzeb reimposed the Jizya in 1679 CE and annexed Bijapur (1686) and Golconda (1687).
25. Guru Tegh Bahadur was executed by Aurangzeb in 1675 CE; his son Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa Panth in 1699 CE.
26. Nadir Shah invaded Delhi in 1739 CE and looted the Peacock Throne and Kohinoor diamond.
27. Rajaraja I (Chola) built the Brihadeshwara Temple at Thanjavur; conquered northern Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
28. Rajendra I (Chola) defeated Pala king Mahipala and took the title "Gangaikonda Chola"; sent a naval expedition against Srivijaya.
29. The Uttiramerur inscriptions describe the Kudavolai system of village self-government under the Cholas.
30. Vijayanagara Empire was founded in 1336 CE by Harihara I and Bukka I, guided by the saint Vidyaranya.
31. Krishnadeva Raya (Vijayanagara) wrote "Amuktamalyada" and patronized the "Ashtadiggajas" (eight Telugu poets).
32. Battle of Talikota (1565) — Vijayanagara defeated by the Deccan Sultanate confederacy; Rama Raya killed; city destroyed.
33. Bahmani Kingdom was founded in 1347 CE by Alauddin Bahman Shah (Hasan Gangu); Mahmud Gawan was its famous Wazir.
34. The Bahmani Kingdom split into five Deccan Sultanates: Bijapur, Ahmadnagar, Golconda, Bidar, and Berar.
35. Shivaji was crowned "Chhatrapati" at Raigad in 1674 CE by Gaga Bhatt.
36. Shivaji's administration used the Ashtapradhan council of eight ministers; Peshwa was the Prime Minister.
37. Chauth (25%) and Sardeshmukhi (10%) were Maratha revenue levies on non-Maratha territories.
38. Baji Rao I was the most militarily successful Peshwa; Balaji Baji Rao's reign saw the Third Battle of Panipat (1761).
39. Guru Nanak Dev founded Sikhism (1469–1539); Guru Arjan Dev compiled the Adi Granth and built the Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib).
40. Suraj Mal was the greatest ruler of the Jat kingdom of Bharatpur.
41. Vasco da Gama reached Calicut in 1498 CE, opening the direct European sea route to India.
42. Afonso de Albuquerque captured Goa from the Bijapur Sultan in 1510 CE — foundation of Portuguese power in India.
43. The Dutch were decisively defeated by Travancore's Marthanda Varma at the Battle of Colachel (1741).
44. Job Charnock founded the English settlement at Calcutta in 1690 CE (Fort William).
45. The Battle of Plassey (23 June 1757) — Robert Clive defeats Siraj-ud-Daulah with Mir Jafar's treachery — marks the beginning of British political dominance in India.
46. The Farrukhsiyar Farman (1717) granted the English East India Company duty-free trade in Bengal.
47. Robert Clive's defence of Arcot (1751) turned the tide of the Second Carnatic War against the French (Dupleix).
48. The Kailasa Temple at Ellora (rock-cut, monolithic) was built by the Rashtrakuta king Krishna I.
49. Khajuraho temples were built by the Chandela dynasty of Bundelkhand.
50. Chand Bardai, court poet of Prithviraj Chauhan, wrote the "Prithviraj Raso."

PRACTICE MCQ POINTERS (Topics to Frame Questions From)

• Chronology-ordering questions: sequence of Delhi Sultanate dynasties; sequence of Mughal emperors; sequence of Battles of Panipat (1526, 1556, 1761) and Battles of Tarain (1191, 1192).
• Match-the-following: Ruler ↔ Monument (e.g., Qutub Minar–Aibak/Iltutmish; Taj Mahal–Shah Jahan; Brihadeshwara Temple–Rajaraja I; Gol Gumbaz–Bijapur Sultanate, general Deccan awareness).
• Match-the-following: Ruler ↔ Author/Book (Baburnama–Babur; Akbarnama/Ain-i-Akbari–Abul Fazl; Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri–Jahangir; Prithviraj Raso–Chand Bardai; Rehla–Ibn Battuta; Tahqiq-i-Hind–Al-Biruni).
• Administrative-term identification: Iqta vs Jagir vs Mansab (Zat/Sawar); Chauth vs Sardeshmukhi; Ashtapradhan portfolios; Sultanate departments (Diwan-i-Arz, Diwan-i-Insha etc.).
• Battle-outcome questions: who defeated whom, and the year (Plassey 1757, Panipat I/II/III, Talikota 1565, Haldighati 1576, Khanwa 1527, Chausa/Kannauj 1539–40, Colachel 1741, Wandiwash 1760).
• Dynasty founder/capital matching table questions (Slave, Khalji, Tughlaq, Sayyid, Lodi; Vijayanagara sub-dynasties; Bahmani successor Sultanates; Mughal emperors and capitals).
• Religious movement questions: Nirguna vs Saguna Bhakti saints; Sufi Silsilahs and their founders/key figures; Sikh Gurus in sequence and their specific contributions.
• Local self-government / Chola polity: Ur, Sabha, Nagaram, Variyam, Kudavolai system, Uttiramerur inscription.
• European powers: order of arrival in India (Portuguese → Dutch → English → French → Danish); key forts/factories and founding years; Carnatic Wars sequence and outcomes.
• "Who is known as" identification questions: Sikandar-i-Sani (Alauddin Khalji), Zinda Pir (Aurangzeb, informally), Parrot of India (Amir Khusrau), Second Alexander, Lakh Baksh (Aibak), Rangeela (Muhammad Shah), Chhatrapati (Shivaji).
• Cause-effect/one-word-answer style: reasons for Muhammad bin Tughlaq's failures; reasons for Mughal decline post-Aurangzeb; reasons for the fall of Vijayanagara.