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 […]
Continue reading
Tag Archives: Bombay
Whispering Thoughts No 35 Bangalore to Goa – Rambling Reflexions
January 18, 2024 
0 Comments
Goa, 18 January 2024 The title of this piece reminds me of a movie, Bombay to Goa, released in 1972. Though not a conventional hit, it remains one of my favourites because of the unusual array of characters portrayed with aplomb by various character artistes of the time. The nominal hero, the romantic lead, […]
Continue readingEuropeans in India Part 8 The English East India Company Section III: Early Decades – The Steady March
March 17, 2023 0 Comments
Canberra, 17 March 2023 The East India Company’s beginnings in India were not very promising, mainly because of the concerted Portuguese opposition and the inability of the English to obtain permission from the Mughal Viceroy of Gujarat to erect a factory in Surat. The Portuguese were opposed to any new arrivals in India and made […]
Continue readingEuropeans in India Part 7 The Dutch Enter the Fray Section II Commercial Activities – Gujarat, The Coromandel & Bengal
January 29, 2023 0 Comments
Canberra, 29 January 2023 The Dutch arrived in India and faced great opposition from the Portuguese, who pushed back with force. The animosity was such that they moved on to the Far-East and established themselves in today’s Indonesia. From their base in the archipelago, they made gradual and initially surreptitious inroads into South Asia, initially […]
Continue readingThe Marathas Part 22 Ruling the Waves: The Maratha Navy Section III: The House of Angre is Brought Down
October 4, 2022 0 Comments
Canberra, 04 October 2022 Kanhoji Angre had many children from several wives and concubines, of whom six sons are known by name in history—Sekhoji, Sambhaji, Manaji, Tulaji, Yesaji and Dhonaji. Sekhoji, probably the eldest son, succeeded to his father’s position without any contest or dissention from his siblings, receiving the robes of investiture from the […]
Continue readingThe Marathas Part 22 Ruling the Waves: The Maratha Navy Section I: Shivaji Lays the Foundation
October 4, 2022 0 Comments
Canberra 04 October 2022 A seafaring tradition had existed among the people of the Western Coast of Maharashtra for centuries, although there is no evidence of any attempt at creating a naval power before the 14th century. It could be said that the sea was a new and untested element for the Marathas, in terms […]
Continue readingThe Marathas Part 13 Peshwa Baji Rao I Section IV A Peshwa Fades Away
December 26, 2021 0 Comments
Canberra, 26 December 2021 The Marathas always faced obstacles in establishing strong control over the coastal region of Konkan. The Sidis, and later the Portugues, individually contested the control over this narrow, but strategically important coastal strip. The control of Konkan translated to the control of the lucrative seaborne trade that also included horses and […]
Continue reading
Sanu Kainikara 
Recent Comments