After having heard much about "The Anarchy" by William Dalrymple , started reading it during Ramazan . Prior to starting the book an introduction of author is imperative . William Dalrymple is one of the greatest British historians , celebrated and prestigious writer , apparently , immensely having an inclination towards united India , its rulers like Mughals, Nawabs, Marathas, Bengalis, Haider Ali, Tipu Sultan, Ahmad Shah Durrani and Rohillas, has panned this much recommended "The Anarchy" covering the relentless rise of East India Company (EIC), invasions on India by French, Dutuch, Portuguese, Afghans and finally English. The series of invasions started in late 16th century and ended at 19th. In between them EIC changed different officers and Indian monarchs as well changed generation after generation. Trading corporations usually establish trades, earn money and get back to pavilion , on the contrary EIC not with standing establishing trade slowly and gradually extended contacts with Kings, raised fortifications, appointed soldiers, deployed them on different locations in India, made artilleries, created chaos, plundered national exchequer, minted money, made laws, waged wars, held courts, issued punishments and planted English settlements . It all categorically indicated that EIC intended more than what it pretended to do earlier . Many interesting things came to knowledge like Islamophobia is not new rather ageold (especially in India) since Hindu King Shivaji who claimed himself as Lord Vishnu , stated that "The muslims are demons incarnate , arisen to flood the earth with their own religion therefore I will destroy these demons who have taken the form of muslims "
EIC had been granted monopoly on near 2/3rd parts of trading world and it took 2 and half centuries. The Nawab of Bengal Ali Verdi Khan had great passion of white Persian cats , French and English on Bengal had competed to find him most beautiful specimens from around the world.
Though this all like plundering, fortifications, holding courts and punishments were not part of any imperial masterplan infact EIC men then were ignoring their strict instructions from London which alognwith establishing trade , were only to repulse French attacks and avoid potentially ruinous wars with their Mughal hosts but seeing opportunities for personal enrichments as well as political and economic gain for the cpmpany , they dressed up the conspiracy on colors that they knew would appeal to their masters. So a business enterprise had now emerged from its chrysalis , transformed into an autonomous imperial power , backed by a vast army , exercising control over 20 million Indians and a body of merchants had been transformed into the de facto sovereign rulers of a major chunk of northern India . It was not British government that seized India in middle of the 18th century but a private company .
Leo Tolstoy in a letter to a Hindu on 14 December 1908 wrote "Corporations have neither bodies to be punished nor souls to be condemned , they therefore do as they like" .
William Dalrymple perhaps like Waren Hastings , John Jacob and other Britishers, has made India his final abode and he lives with his wife and 3 children on a form outside Delhi .
