Who allowed the British to trade in India?

British weren’t the first European company to come to India however, they were able to monopolies the entire country driving out all other European power. What was so different about the English?

Thomas Roe in presence of Jahangir asking for trade concessions in India in 1616; Image source: scroll.in

The Portuguese were the first to come to India. However, their influence was restricted to Goa. They were not able to reap the advantage of being the ‘first mover.’ On the other hand, the British ruled India for 200 years completely draining the wealth of the country while England underwent an industrial revolution.

How did it all begin?

The English Association of Merchant’s Adventurers’ was created in 1599. Its main motive was trading with the Eastern world. Queen Elizabeth gave them a charter for 15 years and over time they came to be known as the ‘English East India Company.’

When the EIC came to India they didn't have much success but the EIC envoy led by Sir William Hawkins managed to receive some concession and privilege in India. What he did was, he gathered all the information he could before meeting with the Mughal King.

Usually, the European companies when failed to get the required trade treaties shifted to arms and cannons but this couldn't be done in India for the Mughal empire had a staggering army consisting of 4 million men. Williams came to know when the Portuguese tried to make illegal dwellings and forced people to convert to Christianity, the Mughal emperor had their settlements attacked.

The Portuguese were easily defeated and 400 prisoners were captured. Others plunged themselves into the Ganges hoping to escape but were drowned by the current of the river. The captured were made to beg in Agra, sold in slavery and many were tortured in prison.

Williams realised the Portuguese made the mistake of converting people to Christianity when it’s clear the Indians hold their tradition and religion very close to them. In order to trade with this country, the permission of the Mughals is a must and in order to do that he must respect their culture. With this, he began his lessons to learn Turkish, the language used by the Mughals.

When he was presented in front of the Jahangir and he began using the Turkish language in front of him, Jahangir who used to be dismissive of earlier envoys got impressed by him. After listening to his appeals he finally gave him the rank of ‘500 mansabdar.’

However, this privilege was soon revoked by Jahangir as the nobles in his court weren’t happy about an outsider receiving this privilege. By that time, the British were complete with their warehouses at Surat and Masulipatnam.

In 1615, another envoy led by Sir Thomas Roe visited Jahangir’s court. Thomas Roe had managed to do his homework even better than Williams. He brought with him some gifts that were particularly suited to Jahangir’s taste- rare paintings and crates of red wine. Jahangir was a man who was the inheritor of the proud Indo-Mughal tradition with a great taste for aesthetics and knowledge. While working for the Empire he commissioned great works of art.

Perhaps it’s a human tendency that when people receive a well-thought gift they can’t help but soften up to people and Thomas Roe just managed to get the right things. This time Jahangir gave EIC a full trading concession, no matter the opinion of the nobles. These concessions led to the establishment of British trading centres at Agra, Ahmedabad and Bharuch.

Unlike the Portuguese, the British believed in finishing their research work first. In fact, when the first Portuguese, Vasco De Gama came to India, he was cordially welcomed by the Zamorians (people of Calicut) however, he managed to anger the people with his behaviour. The gifts he had brought for the king of Calicut were substandard and his disdain for people who were not Christians could be seen clearly.

The Portuguese couldn't find the right strategy but the British even though, were late in their arrival managed to dig their way into India and create their empire.