Americans feared Tanjore invasion, Does 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 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,” Roman said then Nawab of Arcot along with East India Company invaded kingdom of Thanjavur in 1773 . Roots of this event lay in Nawab’s dependence on 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. Truth about invasion soon reached London, British Parliament. “It was the most debated topic of day. The stuff which, if happened today, would be all over CNN, BBC and all newspapers. From coffee shops to families’ parties, event was discussed and debated everywhere,” said Roman. In 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. Broadsheets were circulated by Rusticus. With phrases like ‘Remember Tanjore, Beware of East India Company’, it had a huge impact on Americans, he said. “It is possible that there was correspondence between the then South India and America.” He also brought out how, East India Company suffered a huge loss of image in London following the incident, which later sowed seeds for the takeover of the Company by the Raj, a few decades later.
Posted on: Sun, 25 Aug 2013 02:31:36 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015