Who said that there is no link between the American War of Independence from Great Britain and the happenings in India
There seems to be link between the Boston Tea party that happened on 16th December 1773 and the invasion of Tanjore
This may interest some of us...Wonder how information flew from one country to the other 300 years back!
Americans feared Tanjore invasion
By Express News Service - CHENNAI
Published: 24th August 2013
Does the little temple town of Tanjore and the global super power United states of America evoke any connections besides the Multi-National Companies? Apparently, their connection between the goes back to over 300 years.
At an event organised in connection with the Madras Week celebrations in the city recently, Stephan Roman, British Council regional director of South Asia, elucidated the repercussions of the Tanjore Invasion by the East India company. The incident, he said, stirred the then London and colonial United States. “In fact it might have been one of the influences for American Revolution, which began with the Boston Tea Party, a few months after the invasion,”he said.
Roman said that the then Nawab of Arcot along with the East India Company invaded the kingdom of Thanjavur in 1773 . The roots of this event lay in Nawab’s dependence on the company for securing protection for his kingdom and fortification of his principalities, he added.
Further, he explained that, after funding a number of wars by the East India Company and indebted by the heavy maintenance cost of the British troops in his territory, the Nawab began to borrow money. Money was borrowed at huge interest rates from some of the British merchants and a number of Councillors of East India Company. There was a growing debt coupled with corruption among his own revenue officials, said Roman.
An opportunity soon presented itself when the ruler of Tanjore attacked a small kingdom that belonged to the Nawab of Arcot. The Nawab was instigated by the councillors of the East India Company and British Merchants, led by Paul Benfield, to invade Tanjore.
The truth about the invasion soon reached London and the British Parliament. “It was the most debated topic of the day. From coffee shops to families’ parties, the event was discussed and debated everywhere,” said Roman.
In the British Parliament, the criticism of the move was led by Edmund Burke, who took to harsh attacks on Benfield and the councillors. He argued how could people who have been in India for only a few years amass such wealth. This would put rulers of huge kingdoms under their debt.
The move also crossed the seas and reached America which was then a colony of East India Company. “The Americans identified with the Indians. When they saw the arbitrary overthrow of kings of the land by the East India Company, it gave rise to the fear that the same might happen to them. There were broadsheets circulated that spread the news of the invasion of Tanjore and the conduct of the company. Within a few months there was the Boston Tea Party which soon led to the American revolution,” he said.
The broadsheets were circulated by Rusticus. With phrases like ‘Remember Tanjore, Beware of East India Company’, it had a huge impact on the Americans, he said. “It is possible that there was correspondence between the then South India and America.”
He also brought out how, the East India Company suffered a huge loss of image in London following the incident, which later sowed the seeds for the takeover of the Company by the Raj, a few decades later.
There seems to be link between the Boston Tea party that happened on 16th December 1773 and the invasion of Tanjore
This may interest some of us...Wonder how information flew from one country to the other 300 years back!
Americans feared Tanjore invasion
By Express News Service - CHENNAI
Published: 24th August 2013
Does the little temple town of Tanjore and the global super power United states of America evoke any connections besides the Multi-National Companies? Apparently, their connection between the goes back to over 300 years.
At an event organised in connection with the Madras Week celebrations in the city recently, Stephan Roman, British Council regional director of South Asia, elucidated the repercussions of the Tanjore Invasion by the East India company. The incident, he said, stirred the then London and colonial United States. “In fact it might have been one of the influences for American Revolution, which began with the Boston Tea Party, a few months after the invasion,”he said.
Roman said that the then Nawab of Arcot along with the East India Company invaded the kingdom of Thanjavur in 1773 . The roots of this event lay in Nawab’s dependence on the company for securing protection for his kingdom and fortification of his principalities, he added.
Further, he explained that, after funding a number of wars by the East India Company and indebted by the heavy maintenance cost of the British troops in his territory, the Nawab began to borrow money. Money was borrowed at huge interest rates from some of the British merchants and a number of Councillors of East India Company. There was a growing debt coupled with corruption among his own revenue officials, said Roman.
An opportunity soon presented itself when the ruler of Tanjore attacked a small kingdom that belonged to the Nawab of Arcot. The Nawab was instigated by the councillors of the East India Company and British Merchants, led by Paul Benfield, to invade Tanjore.
The truth about the invasion soon reached London and the British Parliament. “It was the most debated topic of the day. From coffee shops to families’ parties, the event was discussed and debated everywhere,” said Roman.
In the British Parliament, the criticism of the move was led by Edmund Burke, who took to harsh attacks on Benfield and the councillors. He argued how could people who have been in India for only a few years amass such wealth. This would put rulers of huge kingdoms under their debt.
The move also crossed the seas and reached America which was then a colony of East India Company. “The Americans identified with the Indians. When they saw the arbitrary overthrow of kings of the land by the East India Company, it gave rise to the fear that the same might happen to them. There were broadsheets circulated that spread the news of the invasion of Tanjore and the conduct of the company. Within a few months there was the Boston Tea Party which soon led to the American revolution,” he said.
The broadsheets were circulated by Rusticus. With phrases like ‘Remember Tanjore, Beware of East India Company’, it had a huge impact on the Americans, he said. “It is possible that there was correspondence between the then South India and America.”
He also brought out how, the East India Company suffered a huge loss of image in London following the incident, which later sowed the seeds for the takeover of the Company by the Raj, a few decades later.
