Royal decree to future horrors

Today marks the official start of 200 years of hate, violence, brutality, slavery, oppression and colonialism. India was a land of extreme riches and wealth. A key player in global commerce, trade with India was always considered to be lucrative and European forces, ambitious for good profit saw her as a potential market.

Thomas Roe in Jahangir's Court

After getting permission to establish and operate functions from Queen Elizabeth I in 1900, the Britishers reached the Mughal court in 1906 and asked for permission to trade, appealing directly to the Mughal emperor Jahangir, which he denied. At this time the Portuguese were already on goods terms with the Mughals and enjoyed trade. It is said that the Portuguese might have had a hand to play in this denial.

The bitterness between both these foreign powers, led to a war in the port city of Surat for its control as the control of this strategic city was very profitable. At this point the British had already been refused Surat and the Portuguese held control.

Well, if it were not for a ship, we might have been colonized by the Portuguese. Noticing the English intimacy with the emperor made the Portuguese anxious and to gain control, they captured the ship 'Rahimi', owned by the Jahahngir's mother. This act along with other acts outraged the Mughal emperor and he took several steps against them.

The Brits again attacked Surat and the Portuguese were defeated this time. A quite impressed Jahangir granted permission to the EIC and Surat in 1613, in the form of a royal decree or 'farmaan'.

Later a convoy of Sir Thomas Roe was sent as an ambassador to the Mughal court to familiarize them with the British culture. He stayed at the court for a few years as a symbol of royal alliance between India and the British crown.