The Anarchy

William Dalrymple is a wonderful historian and researcher of Anglo-Indian history who seems to know all the relevant archives (including private ones) in every language all of which he seems to be fluent in. Of his quartet (this book, 'White Mughals', 'The Return of the King' and 'The Last Mughal'), this is the best for providing an overview of the British conquest, the other three more interesting for their focus on key episodes, the relationship of the East India Company to the Mughal government in Hyderabad ('White Mughuls'), the invasion of Afghanistan ('The Return go the King') and the 1857 Sepoy revolt in Delhi ('The Last Mughal'), which was a turning point in Anglo-Indian relations. For this reader, the most eye-opening paragraph of this book was this (page 14): 'India then [1608 when the first East India ship showed up in India] had a population of 150 million - about a fifth of the world's total - and was producing about a quarter global manufacturing.... In comparison, England then had just 5 percent of India's population and 3 percent of the world's manufactured goods.' Of course there's some statistical BS going on here (even if you can believe statistics from 1608) since 5 percent of 'India's population' was 1% of the world producing 3 percent of it's goods. Today India represents about 19% of the world's population and produces 3.27% of world GDP. Maybe the Raj didn't turn out so well for India, despite what neo-imperialists like Niall Ferguson say. Dalrymple isn't in Ferguson's school. The heyday of Anglo-Indian relations for Dalrymple lasted from about 1750 until 1810, when there was a lot of friendly fraternizing between the cultures, and every 16-year old younger son of an English baronet could ship out to India and, assuming he didn't succumb to disease in the first year, acquire a fortune, a Bibi and a harem. 'White Mulghals' describes this culture well, though even better are the memoirs of William Hickey. Dalrymple is especially a connoisseur of the poetry, painting, festivals and court intrigues of the era. His 'Forgotten Masters: Indian Paintings for the East India Company' is a delight. Of course, an historian like Dalrymple of past centuries is relying on written records and cultural artifacts of elite culture, so a reader should assume that the voices of the poor and illiterate (90% of India at the time?) are unheard, except as they may have been seen causing mayhem (the Sepoy mutiny) and described by the literate in letters or show up in letters and petitions dictated to scribes, probably at exorbitant cost. A final note, about White Mulghals, which was the most affecting of the books to me. It tells the story of the love affair of James Kirkpatrick, the British resident (essentially ambassador) to the Mughal court at Hyderabad with Khair un-Nissa, a young noblewoman descended from the Prophet, who becomes pregnant by Kirkpatrick at age 14. Kirkpatrick was 36, and the affair nearly ruins his career with the East India Company. Then, because she was a Muslim. Today it would certainly ruin his career because of her age, which seems not to have been a problem then, but life then was much shorter. Kirkpatrick dies at 41; Khair un-Nissa dies 8 years later at 27.

I have been reading William Dalrymple’s books for the last few years - White Mughals, Return of a King, The Last Mughal, and now this book - The Anarchy. It was a fantastic read, gripping, though sometimes comes across biased, especially when narrating stories of war strategies, exploits, and plundering by British East India Company’s Generals and Governor Generals. Speaking of war, this book has a large dosage of it - to be clear, the war strategies and wins by the EIC. Sometimes History becomes irrelevant for what is not being told, speaking of which, the loot and plunder of EIC become monotonous in this book, halfway through, as it was not balanced with wins of native rulers. Though I was not looking for a feel-good book, I was looking for a balanced narrative. I skipped some of the gory details about how the psychotic Ghulam Qadir tortured Shah Alam. The author did write about how Burke and Charles James Fox and other parliamentarians who tried to bring some sense of accountability to the anarchist EIC. This was revealing. However, the fact that Indian revenues propped up the entire British society for decades, came in the way of the Crown taking any manful action to control the suffering of the natives. The details about the Bengal famine will make anybody’s heart sink. In today’s age, Clive would be prosecuted and hanged in the town square for all his misdeeds and greed. As fate would have it, he shot himself to death. The chapter on Tipu will make you wonder that the propaganda started by the British about Tipu’s fanaticism is still finding followers. Tipu consulting Brahmin astrologers for conducting wars, his generous donations to temples, and the general love of his people towards their ruler Tipu were all in a new light. Tipu however was not as sagacious as his illustrious dad, Haider, who foresaw what EIC would do to native kingdoms and forged alliances to defeat EIC. Perhaps some of the negative narratives we hear about Tipu were real to some extent but they seem very exaggerated. He had enmity with Marathas, who peddled the same propaganda that EIC did. In the end, history is history, whether we like it not, but the final words by the author making it appear as a result of greed by a corporation has totally missed the point. This was and will remain forever as, misdeeds and greed of European imperialist powers. EIC is just a symptom of such greed and unbridled supremacy and arrogance. Someday all of those criminals must be prosecuted. One other interesting fact about EIC was that their expansionist and degutting policies were foreseen by American patriots in 1773. From the book: Patriot John Dickinson described EIC tea as ‘accursed Trash’, and compared the potential future regime of the East India Company in America to being ‘devoured by Rats’. This ‘almost bankrupt Company’, he said, having been occupied in wreaking ‘the most unparalleled Barbarities, Extortions and Monopolies’ in Bengal, had now ‘cast their Eyes on America, as a new Theatre, whereon to exercise their Talents of Rapine, Oppression and Cruelty’. - Dalrymple, William. The Anarchy (pp. 27-28). Bloomsbury Publishing. Kindle Edition. EIC dumped the tea that they could not sell elsewhere in the American colonies, with jacked up taxes. This event triggered the American Revolution when the tea was dumped in the Boston harbor. It is striking that what American patriots foresaw about EIC was missed by native Indian rulers of that time. As Karma would have it, this lack of vision in the 18th century had contributed in coalescing Indian peoples as one, united under tyranny, leading to the Indian Union of today.

one of best book I have read...

As all previous books of this author, this is an excellent historical account of what happened when a British 18th century corporation managed to subdue a country with little or no control from anyone. My only regret is that the title, in my opinion, gives a relatively little idea of what the book is all about and may not attract the casual reader to the real content of the book. I picked it up just because of the reputation of the author. My whole historical perspective of this country has now completely changed (I had read other books, written by the victors...), and how much more sense the modern condition of Indian subcontinent makes once I have this period clarified and illuminated by this book.

Pages ripped, but package intact.

The Anarchy: The East India Company, Corporate Violence, and the Pillage of an Empire by William Dalrymple is a meticulously researched and compellingly written historical account that delves into the rise and fall of the East India Company (EIC). Here are the key aspects of the book: Historical Insight Dalrymple provides a vivid and detailed narrative of the EIC, from its inception as a modest trading entity in the early 17th century to its transformation into a powerful corporate juggernaut that controlled vast swathes of India. The book chronicles the period from 1599, when the EIC was established, to 1803, when it conquered Delhi, marking the beginning of British colonial rule in India. Corporate Exploitation and Violence The title "The Anarchy" reflects the chaotic and violent period in Indian history during which the EIC exploited local rivalries and leveraged its growing military power to establish dominance. Dalrymple highlights the corporate greed and ruthless tactics employed by the EIC, emphasizing how it operated more like a predatory private enterprise than a traditional colonial power. The book underscores the devastating impact of the EIC's policies on Indian society, economy, and polity. Personalities and Politics Dalrymple brings to life a range of historical figures, from EIC officials like Robert Clive and Warren Hastings to Indian rulers such as Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II and Nawab Siraj-ud-Daula. He examines their motivations, strategies, and the interplay of personalities and politics that shaped this tumultuous era. The narrative is enriched by Dalrymple's use of primary sources, including letters, diaries, and contemporary accounts, which provide authenticity and depth. Literary Style Dalrymple's writing is both scholarly and accessible, making "The Anarchy" suitable for both academic audiences and general readers interested in history. His storytelling prowess keeps the reader engaged, and his ability to contextualize historical events within broader social and economic trends adds layers of understanding. Critical Reception "The Anarchy" has been praised for its thorough research, balanced perspective, and engaging prose. Critics have lauded Dalrymple for shedding light on a critical but often overlooked aspect of colonial history and for his ability to convey the complexities of this period in a nuanced manner. The book has also sparked discussions about the legacy of colonialism and the role of corporate power in shaping world history. William Dalrymple's "The Anarchy" is a masterful account of the East India Company's rise to power and its profound impact on India. It offers valuable insights into the mechanisms of corporate exploitation and the historical consequences of unchecked corporate power. The book is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of India, colonialism, and the dynamics of corporate imperialism.

Zeer leesbaar. Het toont de EIC als een soort handelsmafia.