Pleasant surprise in my inbox :) The Liebster Award post!

It is always nice when your friends share their happy moments with you. And so was I when Preethi Mam (I was one of her students as mentioned in the 8^th point in her “Eleven facts about myself” ;) ) shared her Liebster Award with me.

Thanks a lot Ma’m.

I was told that when this award is shared, I am expected to do the following things.

1. Post 11 facts about yourself

2. Answer the 11 questions the tagger has given you

3. Tag 11 more Bloggers (with no more than 200 followers; no tagging back) and make 11 questions for them

4. Tell the people you tagged that you did.

I would definitely do the first 2 things. Don’t think that I am being so mean. The problem of being obsessed with your work is you find less time to do things you love to do. L I know it is something I need to bring a balance. After all, I believe time management is in our hands. And we always find time to do things we like. Am new to blogging and am trying to be active in it. And I have to find that 11 more bloggers. But I promise I would read more blogs and comment and encourage new good writers J

Now over to eleven facts about myself

1. Chennai Vasi from the beginning. Love my country the Bharat Desh (India). I like reading its history and I cherish its rich heritage. Would love to visit all historical places and temples in India during my life. I would do my best to contribute to its development. I wish to be in India all through my life. J This does not mean I don’t want to visit other countries. Even if it is heaven out there nothing can beat my country. So my permanent address should always be India with God’s grace.

2. I am a Chartered Accountant who works in Industry. Love accounts and tax.

3. I am a straight forward, honest person. “Say the facts and truth on face” is my policy. And I love the ones who are honest with me. I have this bad habit of being too honest. ;) Now this doesn’t mean I hurt people in the name of honest opinions. I do moderate the way I say things. Be it my boss or my best friend or my junior at work, if I find something, which I need to say, I would not fear to say. Even if things back fire I would stick to truth and facts. Unless there are facts contrary to my belief I would not change my opinions at the whims and fancy of others J

4. I indulge in self analysis most of the times. I welcome healthy criticism. I might become bit emotional at first but after some moments of silence I would analyze and try to mould. I would accept it if I feel it is valid. If I find it unreasonable I would ignore it. J

5. I tend to become emotional. And I find it difficult to say no. I forgive people too easily. I don’t wait for apologies to forgive :)

6. Love reading books. If someone says I will lock you in a room and go, I would say please lock me inside a library so that I will have books to read ;)

7. My hobbies include walking listening to music, selective movies (am bit choosy can't watch many sad movies ;), recently blogging and books.

8. Love healthy arguments and interaction. (Yes I am talkative. But I can be silent as well)

9. Love teaching. Some time in future I would like to see myself as Tax faculty (at least guest faculty ;))

10.  I accept people for what they are. Friends are my extended family. And I love listening to them and share their sorrows and happiness.

11.  Love doing things for my family (which includes my friends) J

These are the 11 questions posted to me:-

1. Why blog?

            Writing is something personal. Each person has got a style and I basically started writing as a means of positive let out. And blog is a good way to store your write ups and you reach people. And some day you can look back at your old writings. It is good when you find people are reading your stuff and responding. I personally don’t write for the sake of appreciation. I write for personal peace. But I would not deny the fact that it does feel good when some one leaves a message seeing the post. J

2. How has blogging changed your life?

On personal front, I use writing as a mode to find peace in the midst of commotion and the fact that I can store it beautifully in a blog has brought an immense sense of joy. Blogging has become a good hobby. Am trying to be active in it and read more blogs and encourage good writers.

3. Name one person who has truly inspired you, and has hence led you to change something about yourself.

            The good things in each person I have met has inspired me. I always feel there is no one single role model. But if you ask me to name one I would say “Jhansi Ki Rani Lakshmi Bai.” Her story inspired to be bold and stand up for my rights and do my duty.

4. If there is something you would like to change about yourself, what would that be?

            I allow people to take me for granted. And I find it very difficult to say no. Good close friends don’t take advantage of it but not all are same. Sometimes even when I know that they are taking advantages, I tend to ignore it giving them too long a rope. ;) . And sometimes I tend to become obsessed with my work. In the sense, I believe being sincere at work is good and to be serious at work is bad. So trying to change it J

5. What is your most priced possession in your room?

            Books are my most priced possession. If I have to be specific it is the Black Swan book based on which am currently writing a series in my blog. It was a timely gift from a very good and best friend of mine. The book helped me in writing something I have never ventured before. It is one topic I love writing and presenting.

6. Do you think blogging can help anything in any way?

According to me a writer is a person who writes irrespective of the fact whether his / her writing brings change or not. That is the power and beauty of writing. And eventually it creates a change. Blog is a powerful tool through which you can reach out to many people. And pen is mightier than sword and so is a blog J It can be used to bring about social changes.

7. What is the one festival in India you love to celebrate and do you think we still celebrate them in the same spirit as we used to decades back?

            India’s heritage is exhibited in its festivals. I can’t name one. First thing that comes to my mind is Diwali and the beautiful tradition of Raksha bandhan, which I celebrate wishing few of my best friends. Being a single child I wait for this day just to wish them and it brings me immense joy and happiness. Though there is a general feeling that there is a drop in the spirit of celebrations, I would not accept it. It has become more modern and there is a sense of fastness in everything. And even today, these many festivals are celebrated with josh. And I find that the spirit is always there. It is up to each individual to find it and tap it. J

8. If there is one thing you could do for your country (let's say there are no restraints and what you could do is magical), what would it be?

            Abolish corruption, which our country seems to be getting popular for and install a good government. Once there is good governance every single problem of our country would get solved. And there would be prosperity. India is a land of immense potential. And good governance is all that is required to make it shine.

9. 3 words that would describe you.

            So mean why giving me only 3 words ;) Anyway “Fun loving person.”  In three separate words – Happy, Honest, and Emotional.

10. Which is the best vacation you have had...and with whom?

            Never had a good long vacation! J  I love the trips I have made to temples like Kula deivam temple visit – Periyankuppam, Koothanoor, Kanchi, thennangur, thirupathi etc with my family. J

11. What do you think the future has in store for you?

            I never think much about future. J I believe in living in present and not in anxiety about future. That does not mean I don’t plan for things. I do. I believe that God knows to bring what is best for us. And he never gives things which we cannot handle. He knows our strengths which even we might not be aware of. And “present” is his biggest present. I see future as an adventure. I love expecting the unexpected. And facing it as and when it comes J

Have a lovely day J

Impact of the highly improbable – Part 5

Child’s War was one of the oldest wars fought by the British in the Indian Soil. As mentioned in my earlier post it was not a very popular one. But it was indeed a significant Black Swan ignored by the Mughals

Child’s war started in 1686 and lasted till 1690.

The war has been named after the person who triggered it – Sir Josiah Child, Governor East India Trading Company

Mr. William Hedges was sent to Shaista Khan, the Mughal governor of Bengal to obtain a directive that would grant England regular trading privileges throughout the Mughal Empire. The company's governor in London, Sir Josiah Child, interfered with Hedges's mission, causing Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb to break off the negotiations.

The Mughals indeed won the war foolishly started by Sir Josiah Child who underestimated the might of the Mughals

The Child’s War thus started, ended up as a disaster for the English. So how can a war which Mughal’s won can become a Black swan which led to their eventual downfall?

After the war the company's envoys had to prostrate themselves before the emperor, pay a large indemnity, and promise better behavior in the future. The emperor withdrew his troops and the company subsequently reestablished itself in Bombay and set up a new base in Calcutta.

French illustration of English men requesting pardon from the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb:

  

There were two major mistakes which we can identify now when we look at the aftermath events of the war. First, is in the way war victims and the ones who lost the war were humiliated and were made to prostrate. This created a sense of hatred and a need for revenge in them. Second was allowing them to continue their so called trade in the soils after they have exhibited a tendency to usurp the kingdom.

The Mughals might have thought that they have won and suppressed them. But they never realized that the company stopped only to wait for the next good opportunity.

Sir Josiah Child's war with the Mughal Empire began when he captured Mughal ships and ended when the English were obliged to conclude peace with the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. The effects of this conflict continued to be observed until the year 1703

English did exhibit their sense of hidden hatred which erupted at certain points even though the child’s war had ended. For instance the Ganj-i-Sawai

The Ganj-i-Sawai or Gang-i-Sawai (meaning "Exceeding Treasure", and often Anglicized as Gunsway) was a heavily armed trading ship belonging to the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb which, along with its escort the Fateh Muhammed, was captured on 7 September 1695 by the English pirate Henry Every en route from present day Mocha, Yemen to Surat, India. (Source: Wikipedia).

The victorious pirates then subjected their captives to several days of horror, raping and murdering prisoners at will, and using torture to force them to reveal the location of the ships' treasure. The pirates raped women on the ship, and some of the women committed suicide by jumping into the sea. The other survivors were left aboard their ships, which the pirates set free.

British pirates that fought during the Child's War engaging the Ganj-i-Sawai and A contemporary depiction of Every, with the Fancy engaging the Ganj-i-Sawai in the background. (Source: Wikipedia)

 

 The plunder of Emperor Aurangzeb's treasure ship had serious consequences for the English, coming at a time of crisis for the East India Company, whose profits were still recovering from the disastrous Child's War. The Company had seen its total annual imports drop from a peak of £800,000 in 1684, to just £30,000 in 1695, and this attack now threatened the very existence of English trade in India.

When the damaged Ganj-i-sawai finally limped its way back to harbor in Surat, news of the pirates' attack on the pilgrims spread quickly. The local Indian governor, Itimad Khan, immediately arrested the English subjects in Surat and kept them under close watch, partly as a punishment for their countrymen's depredations and partly for their own protection from the rioting locals. A livid Aurangzeb quickly closed four of the company's factories in India and imprisoned the officers, nearly ordering an armed attack against the English city of Bombay with the goal of forever expelling the English from India.

To appease Aurangzeb, the East India Company promised to pay all financial reparations, while Parliament declared the pirates hostis humani generis ("enemies of the human race"). In mid-1696 the government issued a £500 bounty on Every's head and offered a free pardon to any informer who disclosed his whereabouts. (Source: Wikipedia)

Later, the East India Company doubled that reward, an immense sum by the standard of the time. It was the first worldwide manhunt in recorded history.

Thus the Child’s War ended up doing two things. One the Mughals thought it would be easy to suppress the company in case they fight in future and they thought that they would be afraid despite seeing incidents like the Ganj-i-Sawai. Second the English developed a sense of hatred and revenge and they now understood the might of the Mughals and settled to strike when they become vulnerable. They started understanding the weak points of Mughals and enhanced their own might by making their troops and base strong. These Black swans started consuming the Mughal Empire slowly.

The Company continued to experience resistance from local rulers during its expansion.

Robert Clive led the company forces to victory at the Battle of Plassey in 1757 resulting in conquest of Bengal. This victory estranged the British and the Mughals. But the Mughal Empire was already on the wane after the demise of Aurangzeb, and was breaking up into pieces and enclaves.

Haidar Ali and Tipu Sultan, the rulers of the Kingdom of Mysore, offered much resistance to the British forces. Having sided with the French during the war, the rulers of Mysore continued their struggle against the Company with the four Anglo-Mysore Wars. Mysore finally fell to the Company forces in 1799, with the death of Tipu Sultan. Thus eventually the Mughal Dynasty fell.

The company became increasingly bold and ambitious and did not learn from what happened to the Mughals. Even they ignored the black swans.

Let us now look at the black swans ignored by the Company and the series of events which led to the First war of Indian Independence… J

To be continued…

 

Impact of the highly improbable – Part 4

As said in my previous post, the decline of Mughal dynasty and finally its fall cannot be seen separately from the rise and end of British East India Trading Company which entered the soils of India in 1602. 

The British East India Trading Company was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but it ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China.  

Commonly styled the “The Honourable East India Company, and abbreviated, HEIC; the Company was colloquially referred to as John Company, and in India as “Company Bahadur”.

The East India Company traded mainly in cotton, silk, indigo dye, salt, tea, and opium.

The Company long held a privileged position in relation to the British Government.  As a result, it was frequently granted special rights and privileges, including trade monopolies and exemptions.

The above does sound good for the company at the outset but it was a hidden black swan. The privilege was more of a bane than a boon for the company, though it never realized at that point of time.

The unique privilege given by the British Government to the company caused resentment amongst its competitors, who saw unfair advantage in the Company's position. Despite this resentment, the Company remained a powerful force for over 250 years.

This was how the Colonial India looked at that time. The British Indian Empire: (Source: Wikipedia)

 

This was the company’s flag after 1801 (Source: Wikipedia)

 Let us now see how the company entered India and how the Mughals never realized that their entry was the first step of discrete invasion. The invasion was not in the form of war where there was wielding of swords but it was in the form of smart “Trade”.

English traders frequently engaged in hostilities with their Dutch and Portuguese counterparts in the Indian Ocean. The Company achieved a major victory over the Portuguese in the Battle of Swally in 1612.

The Company decided to explore the feasibility of gaining a territorial foothold in mainland India, with official sanction of both countries, and launched a diplomatic mission.

In 1612, Sir Thomas Roe was instructed by James I to visit the Mughal Emperor Nuruddin Salim Jahangir (r. 1605 - 1627) to arrange for a commercial treaty which would give the Company exclusive rights to reside and build factories in Surat and other areas. In return, the Company offered to provide the Emperor with goods and rarities from the European market.

This mission was highly successful as Jahangir sent a letter to James through Sir Thomas Roe.

When he accepted the treaty for granting exclusive rights he never realized that it would change the frontiers of the empire he ruled. It was not a single Black Swan which the Mughals ignored. It was a flock which merrily entered the Mughal Empire and went ahead undisturbed to shake its foundation.

The following are some of the black swans which we can identify looking back

1.      The Company, benefiting from the imperial patronage, soon expanded its commercial trading operations. The Mughals never noticed the dangerous growth of the company as a threat.

2.      The status of the Company was further enhanced by the restoration of monarchy in England. By a series of five acts around 1670, King Charles II provisioned it with the rights to autonomous territorial acquisitions, to mint money, to command fortresses and troops and form alliances, to make war and peace, and to exercise both civil and criminal jurisdiction over the acquired areas

3.      The Child’s War

Wondering what is Child’s War. The child’s war was indeed not a child’s play.

It was the oldest of wars fought by the British in the Indian Soils. It lasted for 4 years from 1686 – 1690.

Though the War itself may not be a popular one, it was a very significant black swan which was the root cause for the shift in Empire.

Who fought and who won? Why an insignificant war became so significant?

To be continued…