Latest news with #BattleofPlassey
India.com
5 days ago
- Business
- India.com
East India Company, that once looted India for 200 years, is now owned by an Indian; his name is…, business is...
The East India Company was instrumental in the establishment of British dominance in India. It occupied and ruled a large part of the world and the Indian subcontinent for several years. The East India Company was the most powerful arm of the British Empire, which became so large that it was often stated, 'the sun never sets on the British Empire.' But what happened to the East India Company after World War II, when the British Empire crumbled? Who owns the famous trading company now? On December 31, 1600 AD, the East India Company was established as a trading company in England under a special charter from the British Crown, which gave it extraordinary powers and privileges to establish the crown's dominance in other parts of the world, especially in India and East Asia. At first, the East India Company traded with Indian kings and rulers. Over time, it utilized military and political power to consolidate land. Eventually, the Battle of Plassey occurred on June 23, 1757, which led the British to control Bengal. This battle started the Company rule of all of India. As an odd twist of fate, the East India Company – once a ruler of India for nearly 200 years – is now owned by an Indian. Sanjiv Mehta, as British businessman originally born in India, sits at the helm of the company. The East India Company has transformed itself into a luxury goods, gift hampers, luxury tea, coffee and food, premium drinks and homeware retailer.
India Today
7 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Over 4.7 lakh pirated NCERT books seized across India since 2024: Government
In a big move against textbook piracy, the Education Ministry has said that over 4.7 lakh fake NCERT books have been seized across India since 2024. The information was shared by Minister of State for Education, Jayant Chaudhary, in a written reply to the Rajya stated that cases of NCERT textbook piracy have emerged from various parts of India, driven largely by the commercial interests of unauthorised 2024 and 2025, nearly 4.71 lakh pirated NCERT books have been confiscated in operations conducted across multiple states,' he noted. He reiterated NCERT's core mission to ensure access to high-quality, affordable educational resources for every student in the country. 'NCERT textbooks are produced on a no-profit, no-loss basis to reach even the last child,' he the past year alone, NCERT has carried out raids on 29 locations suspected of being linked to the illegal production and distribution of pirated books. The raids, which also targeted manufacturers of fake NCERT watermarked paper, led to the seizure of stocks and printing equipment worth over Rs20 counter the deep-rooted piracy network, the council has implemented several initiatives. These include a 20% price reduction in textbook costs, timely printing schedules, enhanced paper and print quality using modern printing technologies, and expanded availability through e-commerce is also exploring technological solutions to fight collaboration with IIT Kanpur, a pilot anti-piracy mechanism was tested on one million copies of a Class 6 textbook. The solution is patented and aimed at tracking and preventing the circulation of fake the newly released NCERT Class 8 Social Science textbook, titled Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 1), has sparked discussion about omitting key historical figures like Tipu Sultan and Haidar Ali, as well as the Anglo-Mysore Wars, in its chapter on India's colonial textbook covers the era from Vasco da Gama's arrival in the late 1400s up to the 1800s, including the Battle of Plassey and the 1857 uprising, portraying how one of the world's wealthiest lands was systematically impoverished during British rule. The second part of the textbook is expected to be released later this year.(With PTI inputs)- Ends
India Today
17-07-2025
- General
- India Today
‘Traitor' tag for Mir Jafar, Tipu Sultan missing: Controversy erupts over NCERT changes
In the section on the Battle of Plassey of 1757, Mir Jafar, the army general of the Nawab of Bengal, was labelled 'a traitor' in the newly released Class 8 social science textbook, Exploring Society: India and Beyond – Part Battle of Plassey was fought between the Nawab of Bengal and the East India company officials led by Robert Clive, a British official enumerates how the Nawab of Bengal, Siraj-Ud-Daulah, lost to the Company because of Mir Jafar's betrayal. In the section, 'Enter the British' the text reads: 'Clive hatched a conspiracy with Mir Jafar, the Nawab's Military commander, promising to install him as the new Nawab in exchange for his betrayal. The battle took place at Palashi (Plassey as the British Spelt it) some 150 kilometres north of present say Kolkatta. Some French forces assisted the Nawab, but Mir Jafar's forces — constituting the majority of the Nawab's army — stood aside, ensuring a British victory despite their smaller number. Even today, 'Mir Jafar' in India remains a synonym for 'traitor.'!'advertisementThe narrative was vastly different in the earlier version of the book titled 'Our Pasts- III'. In the earlier version the text only mentions under the Battle of Plassey: 'One of the main reasons for the defeat of the Nawab was that the forces led by Mir Jafar, one of Sirajuddaulah's commanders, never fought the battle. Clive had managed to secure his support by promising to make him nawab after crushing Sirajuddaulah.' In the same section under 'The strategy of divide and rule' mentions that 'under the divide and rule policy, the British were equally skilled at exploiting existing divisions within the Indian society, they identified and often encouraged tensions between religious communities.'Although both textbooks continue to teach about the Battle of Plassey, the old textbook explains how trade led to battles through conflicts between the East India Company and the Nawabs after the death of Aurangazeb. The role of nawabs and their resistance has also been reduced as teachings in the new OF RULERS OF MYSORE - TIPU SULTAN AND HAIDER ALIAfter the changes in the history of Mughal rule in India, there is the complete omission of Tipu Sultan, son of Haider Ali, rulers of Mysore and the four Anglo–Mysore Wars—sections that were prominently featured in the previous earlier NCERT social science textbook 'Our Pasts- III , a section explained how the expansion of the East India Company's rule from 1757 to 1857 faced tough resistance from the rulers of Mysore — under Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan, 'the Tiger of Mysore'. Tipu Sultan was portrayed as a significant figure of resistance against British colonial expansion in South India. His administrative reforms, and strategic alliances with the French were all integral parts of the narrative on colonial these elements are now conspicuously absent in the new edition, raising concerns about regional representation. While the new textbook retains coverage of other anti-colonial movements such as the Santhal and Kol rebellions and the Anglo–Maratha EXCERPT FROM THE OLD SOCIAL SCIENCE TEXTBOOKThe "Tiger of Mysore"The Company resorted to direct military confrontation when it saw a threat to its political or economic interests. This can be illustrated with the case of the southern Indian state of Mysore. Mysore had grown in strength under the leadership of powerful rulers like Haidar Ali (ruled from 1761 to 1782) and his famous son Tipu Sultan (ruled from 1782 to 1799). Mysore controlled the profitable trade of the Malabar coast where the Company purchased pepper and cardamom. advertisementIn 1785 Tipu Sultan stopped the export of sandalwood, pepper and cardamom through the ports of his kingdom, and disallowed local merchants from trading with the Company. He also established a close relationship with the French in India, and modernised his army with their help. The British were furious. They saw Haidar and Tipu as ambitious, arrogant and dangerous - rulers who had to be controlled and crushed. Four wars were fought with Mysore (1767-69, 1780-84, 1790-92 and 1799).Only in the last - the Battle of Seringapatam - did the Company ultimately win a victory. Tipu Sultan was killed defending his capital Seringapatam, Mysore was placed under the former ruling dynasty of the Wodeyars and a subsidiary alliance was imposed on the excerpt on Tipu Sultan reads:Kings are often surrounded by legend and their powers glorified through is a legend about Tipu Sultan who became the ruler of Mysore in 1782. It is said that once he went hunting in the forest with a French friend. There he came face to face with a tiger. His gun did not work and his dagger fell to the ground. He battled with the tiger unarmed until he managed to reach down and pick up the he was able to kill the tiger in the battle. After this he came to be known as the "Tiger of Mysore" had the image of the tiger on his educationists and students await Part 2, the debate over representation, regional history, and historical accuracy continues to intensify. NCERT officials have clarified that Part 2 of the textbook, which is yet to be released, may include some of the omitted material. However, no official confirmation or release date has been provided.- EndsMust Watch
India.com
13-07-2025
- Business
- India.com
East India Company, which ruled India for 200 years, is now owned by an Indian; his name is..., business is...
Indian-born British businessman Sanjiv Mehta is the current owner of the British East India Company. (File) The East India Company established the British rule in India, and ruled the Indian subcontinent and other major parts of the world for nearly centuries, expanding the British Empire to the point where its was said that the sun never sets upon it. But what happened to the East India Company following disintegration of the British Empire after the second world war? Who is the current owner of this once world-conquering trading company? Let us delve into these interesting questions and find out more: When was the East India Company established? The East India Company was established in England on December 31, 1600 AD as a trading company under a special charter from the British Crown which gave it extraordinary powers and privileges to establish the crown's dominance in other parts of the world, especially in India and East Asia. Initially, the company established trade relations with Indian rulers, but gradually used its growing military and political influence to capture territory, culminating in the Battle of Plassey on June 23, 1757, which led to the establishment of British dominance in Bengal and laid the foundation for company eventual control over all of India. What happened to British East India Company after India's independence? After the Battle of Plassey, the British East India Company rapidly increased military presence across India, gaining complete control over vast swathes of territory. However, its policies of oppression led to a growing sentiment of independence among the native, resulting in the 1857 revolution, the first war of India's independence. Following the 1857 revolution, which was dubbed by the British as a 'sepoy mutiny', the British Crown ended the British East India Company's rule and transferred the administration of India directly under the Queen of England. The British rule in India came to an end on August 15, 1947, as the once-mighty British Empire and the British East India Company became a shadow of their former selves post World War 2. Notably, the special charter which gave the rights to the East India Company, was completely abolished by the British Crown in 1874. Who currently owns the East India Company? Ironically, the current owner and CEO of the East India Company is an Indian, the nation it ruled for nearly 200 years. Sanjiv Mehta, an Indian-born British business tycoon. Mehta is currently the CEO of East India Company which now has business interests in the luxury goods sector, selling gift hampers, luxury tea, coffee, and other food items, including several types of beverages as well as luxury homeware.
New Indian Express
12-07-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Patriot Games
Of the many characters who have fallen through the cracks of history and have escaped academic attention, one of the most fascinating is Fateh Bahadur Sahi, an obscure king of Huseypur (presently Husepur, in Gopalganj, Bihar), who fought against the British East India Company in the late 18th century. In his new book, The Raja, the Rebel, and the Monk (Penguin), professor of history JN Sinha has tried to unravel Sahi's unusual life and rule, which even present-day inhabitants of Gopalganj are little aware of. Sahi ascended the throne of Huseypur around 1750, seven years before the Battle of Plassey. As with many other kingdoms, the British used deceit and treachery—in this case, they conspired with his cousin, Babu Basant Sahi—to usurp his throne. An indomitable spirit, Sahi fought a guerrilla war for three decades from the dense jungles of Gorakhpur, where he escaped after being dethroned. The book also focuses on his sudden disappearance after becoming a monk. The book is interesting because of the search and research the author put together to fill in the gaps about this historical character. What was Sina's starting point? Says the author: 'In the works of historian Anand Yang, I found the name of Fateh Bahadur Sahi. Although he did not acknowledge Sahi as a freedom fighter and considered him a revenue defaulter, he wrote about Sahi's neighbour and his cousin. He also attributed some sources whom I contacted for my work. In addition, I took inspiration from existing folklore. I spoke to people at present living in that region, those who were familiar with his history. As much as it was possible to verify the facts and myths surrounding him, I did that with the help of archival sources. And that is how the book was born.' Revolutionary or defaulter? Sinha also had to deal with the questions surrounding Sahi's legacy. Was he a revolutionary who fought against the British, or a mere defaulter who took up arms to avoid British taxes? Some also say he was a dacoit.
