In this enlightening discussion, historian Andrew MacKillop, an expert on the Scots in India, reveals the profound impact of Scottish Highlanders on the colonial landscape. He explores the legacy of figures like James Skinner and Lord Dalhousie, detailing their contributions to agriculture and military strategy during the Carnatic Wars. MacKillop also addresses the complex ties between Scots and their colonial ventures in India, juxtaposing the richness gained against moral contradictions, as well as the brutal realities of imperial warfare.
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Dalrymple's List
At 18, William Dalrymple made a list of Scots who positively impacted India.
It included figures like Hume, Skinner, and Dalhousie, and even a Scottish surgeon who cured an emperor.
insights INSIGHT
India: Scotland's Corn Chest
Sir Walter Scott called India "the corn chest for Scotland," highlighting Scotland's economic exploitation of India.
Scots profited by extracting resources and capital from India.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Jacobites in India
After Culloden, defeated Jacobites were given a choice: join the East India Company or face harsher consequences.
Six companies of these men were sent to India, marking a significant influx of Scots.
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This report by the United States General Accounting Office explores key principles of human capital management by examining practices in nine private sector organizations. It provides insights into effective strategies for managing human capital, which can be applied to improve federal government operations. The report emphasizes the importance of aligning workforce strategies with organizational goals and fostering a culture of continuous learning.
The Anarchy
The East India Company, Corporate Violence, and the Pillage of an Empire
William Dalrymple
The Anarchy recounts the remarkable rise of the East India Company from its humble beginnings in 1599 to its military dominance over the Indian subcontinent by 1803. The book details the company's territorial conquests, starting from the Battle of Plassey in 1757, and its eventual control over large swaths of Asia. Dalrymple draws from previously untapped sources, including Indian, Persian, and French materials, to provide a vivid and detailed story of corporate greed, violence, and the fall of the Mughal Empire. The book also explores the broader implications of corporate power and its impact on colonial rule.
In the wake of Culloden, much of Scotland was on its knees. Crippled by defeat and the subsequent backlash of the British government, along with famine and poverty, they were in dire need of new horizons. The nascent British Empire would provide it. The Scottish Highlanders had developed a fearsome reputation during their struggles against the English, and would prove just as indomitable fighting for Britain in India. Yet, in more ways than militarily, India was to become a treasure trove of opportunity, enrichment and conquest for the Scots. From their domination of the East India Trading Company, to some of the men credited with cementing imperial rule in India, and the Highlander Regiments who took on the ferocious Tipu Sultan in the South, Scots involvement in all spheres of the British Empire in India was momentous. It also made them very rich… how controversial, then, is Scotland’s Indian involvement?
In today’s episode, William and Anita are joined by historian Andrew MacKillop to discuss the colourful history of Scots and India.
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