Trade and commerce of the English East India Company in India (Madras)

Author/Creator:

Atchi Reddy, M.

Publication/Creation:

Ambala Cantt : Associated Publishers, 2006

Resource Type:

Book

Edition:

1st edition.

More Details

Additional/Related Title Information

Full Title:

Trade and commerce of the English East India Company in India (Madras) / M. Atchi Reddy

Subjects/Genre

Subjects:

East India Company
Madras (India)--Commerce--History--18th century

Description/Summary

Table of Contents:

Vol. I -- Fort: Preface -- 1. Founding -- 2. Administration -- 3. Defence -- 4. Customs and coinage -- 5. White-town -- 6. Institutions. -- Vol. II -- Town: Preface. 7. Population -- 8. Castes -- 9. Native servants -- 10. Taxation -- 11. Trade -- 12. Policy. -- Vol. III. Suburbs: Preface -- 13. Gardens -- 14. Santhome -- 15. Egmore and Thiruvothur -- 16. Famines and storms -- 17. Prosperity -- 18. Diplomacy. -- -- -- --

Summary:

On commerce in 18th century Madras during East India Company rule.
"The focus of the first volume with 23 sections is on the Fort St. George that continuous to be the seat of administration (Tamilnadu at present) ever since its foundation. Located on a stretch of sand at the mouth of the River Cooum, it was surrounded by scenic wet and marshy lands and numerous small streams draining the nearby Hillocks and passing out of the lakes and tanks. The coastal strip was leased out through a cowle by the Rajah of Chandragiri to the English East India Company whose charters had periodically been renewed by their Kings in England. Its administrative machinery was headed by the Governor-in-Council assisted by the Company and 'native' servants. Being guarded by a strong garrison, the fort was strengthened and its internal structures were extended and conveniently modified. Customs and coinage added to the income of the EIC whose servants along with other merchant had luxurious life styles.
Important institutions, the courts (1678), the corporation (1687) and the post-office (1688) were established to serve the needs of the company as well as the 'natives' in general of Madras. The second volume, with 30 sections composed into 6 chapters, concentrates on Chennapatnam or the Black Town populated mainly by the merchants and weavers helped by other traditional 'native' servants. The population of the town had been variously estimated; it crossed 100000 mark by 1733. The linguistic domination was by the Telugus migrated from the surrounding Carnatic tracts. Living spaces and streets were identified primarily by the dominant castes. There had been some occupational frictions between the left and right hand castes that were divided as well as united by their temples. The chief merchant had been the kingpin in the trade matters while the dubashes or translators advised the merchants.
The town was efficiently administered by the Peddanaik assisted by the traditional functionaries including an army of Taliars and head men of different castes. The expenditure was met by the municipal taxes. Trade and commerce, especially the export of cotton fabrics, brought bumber profits to the EIC. The gist of its trade policy was 'buy cheap and sell dear'. Free traders were used by the EIC to expand its own trade while its servants had invested their huge fortunes in the private trade and enriched themselves; many of them purchased large estates in England. Corruption charges had conveniently been shifted on to the heads of the 'native' servants. Shipping industry thrived in England while their repairs were taken care of by the Coromandel ports. The third volume is compressed into again 6 chapter with 29 sections.
The last chapter reveals the secret but strong foundations of the British Empire, the skilful diplomacy as framed and discussed in the beautiful gardens and finally shaped in the thinking places of the fort. They won the wars without any serious fights. They extended their geographical areas by annexing the clusters of surrounding villages including the port town of Santhome (1686), Egmore (1703), Thiruvothur (1707), Chintadripet (1734) and Mylapore (1744). The surplus agricultural products of these and other surrounding villages were supplied to Madras along with the cotton cloth and casual workers. Their temporary leases had been steadily transformed into permanent acquisitions. The city of Madras had to face the frequent natural calamities of famines and floods along with its hinterlands.
Having successfully faced numerous problems, the city grew rich under the stable company administration while the surrounding Carnatic had declined fast into poverty and misery followed by the fall of the Vijayanagara. The quarrelling Nawabs of Arcot, the invading Mogul Armies along with the Maratha horse had looted and badly burnt the villages while the ruthless tax farmers had squeezed its age-old riches." -- publisher description.

Language:

English

Physical Type/Description:

3 volumes : illustrations, maps ; 23 cm

Additional Identifiers

Catalog ID (MMSID):

990006754440302486

ISBN:

8184290004 (set)
8184290012 (v. 1)
8184290020 (v. 2)
8184290039 (v. 3)
9788184290004 (set)
9788184290011 (v. 1)
9788184290028 (v. 2)
9788184290035 (v. 3)

OCLC Number:

70840025

Barcode:

010001232456
010001232454
010001232455