Company Bahadur Part 6 Warren Hastings Section IV: End of an Innings

Canberra, 18 April 2024 While hastings was in Benares, the new Councillor, John Macpherson arrived in Calcutta from England. He had earlier served in Madras and had established himself as Hastings’ friend. However, Macpherson was an adventurer who was prone to making shady financial deals and was known to accumulate personal wealth. Even so, Macpherson […]

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Company Bahadur Part 6 Warren Hastings Section III: A Star Ascendent

Canberra, 11 April 2024 The trial and execution of Raja Nand Kumar turned Hastings’ official fortunes. Although the Council continued to oppose and criticise his actions, their obstructiveness was ineffective. They had lost their ability to control or even repudiate the GG’s actions. Francis tried to re-introduce Clive’s dual-government system, purely because Hastings had abolished […]

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Company Bahadur Part 6 Warren Hastings Section I: The Beginning of a Career

Canberra, 15th March 2024 There is no doubt that an understanding of the past can be a catalyst for a greater understanding of the present and at times even provide a pointer to the future. History, in its broadest sweep goes beyond the actions of individuals. However, a view through the prism of human activities […]

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Company Bahadur Part 3 Warding Off the Afghan Threat

Canberra, 22 February 2024 The second half of the 18th century was the beginning of a new epoch in the history of the Indian sub-continent. It was marked by a series of events which elevated the English Company as the dominant power in the region. By the 1750s, the sub-continent was parcelled out into several […]

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Europeans in India Part 11 Annexation of Bengal Section VIII: Aftermath

Canberra, 18 September 2023 Mir Jaffar was unable to meet the unreasonable financial commitments that had been made to the British. For that matter he could not even find sufficient funds to cater for his own extravagant tastes and lifestyle. His efforts to milk the local chiefs for more money resulted in an incipient rebellion […]

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The Marathas Part 14 Peshwa Balaji Rao Section I: A Hesitant Start

Canberra, 7 January 2022 On the untimely death of Baji Rao, the Deccan faction in the Maratha court once again attempted to stop the hereditary appointment of the Chitpavan Brahmin Bhat family as Peshwas. This faction was led by Raghuji Bhonsle, who was also one of King Shahu’s favourite nobles. Raghuji had been at loggerheads […]

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Indian History Part 54 The Slave Dynasty Section II Shams ud-Din Iltutmish

  Canberra, 12 October 2016 Qutb ud-Din Aibak’s untimely death caused a great deal of confusion amongst his followers. In Lahore, the officials placed his son Aram Shah on the throne, but the courtiers in Delhi refused to accept or support the new ruler. Aram Shah was generally considered to be weak, indecisive and unfit […]

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