1. Carnatic wars
An echo of the WAR OF AUSTRIAN SUCCESSION
Wars Of Supremacy
Disha
VIII-A

2. The Carnatic Wars : fought between the English and the
French on the Indian soil for supremacy. Directly connected
with their rivalry in Europe.
These were really part of the great Anglo-French wars of the
eighteenth century and are called the Carnatic wars because
the theatre of these wars in India lay mainly in the Carnatic.

4. The First Carnatic War
(1744-48)

5. The War of the Austrian Succession
broke out in Europe in 1740. As a result
the English and the French Companies
also became engulfed in the war. Thus
the First Carnatic War was started.
Dupleix, the Governor General of French,
then sent an appeal to La Bourdonnais,
governor of Mauritius, to assist him with his
fleet. With the help of this fleet Dupleix
captured Madras.
In the meantime the War of Austrian
succession came to an end by the Treaty of Aix-
la-Chapelle (1748) on the basis of mutual
restitution of conquests. Madras was restored
to the English and the territory the English and
the French positions remained unaltered.

6. The Second Carnatic War
1749-54
After the First Carnatic War, Dupleix fully understood the weakness of the Indian princes.
Dupleix soon got his opportunity. He was able to
interfere in the wars of succession that started
after the death of Asaf Jah (1748), the late Nizam
of Hyderabad. Thus began the second phase of the
Anglo French War which is known as the Second
Carnatic War. Both the British and the French
governments disapproved the policy of their
companies fighting in India while the two nations
were officially at peace. The French government
recalled Dupleix and sent Godehu in his place.
Godehu then signed the Treaty of Pondicherry in
1755 with the English. By this treaty both the
nations agreed not to interfere in the quarrels of
the Indian princes. After this treaty though the
French were able to maintain their hold over
Hyderabad for some time, they lost much of the
prestige they had gained before. The British control
over the Carnatic was also established.

7. Third Carnatic War
1757-63
The seven Year’s War broke out in Europe in 1756 A.D. In this War England and France
joined opposite camps.
The battle still continued but Lally was
eventually defeated decisively at the Battle of
Wandiwash in 1760. He retreated to
Pondicherry which was besieged by the
English. Lally defended it gallantly for some
time but was starved into submission in 1761.
This time the French Government made a
determined effort to oust the English from
India. For this purpose the French sent a strong
contingent of force headed by Count-de-Lally .

8. The Third Carnatic War ended officially in 1763 with the conclusion of the
Peace of Paris. Pondicherry and other French possessions in India were
restored to France. But these could be held only as mere trading centers
without any fortifications and armies. Thus the French dream of building an
empire in India was shattered. It cleared the way for the establishment of the
British Empire in India unhampered by any European rival.

9. Causes of French failure
•A principal factor for French failure was the superiority of the
British naval power. This enabled the English to bring soldiers
from Europe and to send supplies from Bengal. But the French
were unable to replenish their resources from outside.
• Secondly, the English East India Company was a private
company and it showed greater enterprise in business. But the
French Company was dependent on the government and
lacked the spirit of bold, individual and corporate effort.
Neither the French government nor the share holders who
were assured of a fixed dividend took any active interest in the
fortunes of the Company.

10. • Thirdly, the British had three important bases in India – Calcutta, Madras
and Bombay. If any of these bases were imperiled by the French, the
English could still get resources from other centers and could continue
war from the other bases. On the other hand, the French had only one
strong base at Pondicherry. If Pondicherry was endangered, it could not
get any effective support from their other bases in India.
• Fourthly, the British Company had many capable men like Clive,
Lawrence, and Eyre Coote etc. in its service. On the other hand, besides
Dupleix, the French Company had no really able man to serve it.
• Fifthly, the victory at Plassey gave the English Company large resources of
a rich area.

12. Battle of Plassey was the most decisive war that marked the
initiation of British rule in India for the next two centuries. Battle
of Plassey or Palashi took place between British East India
Company and Nawabs of Bengal and his French allies. The battle
occurred on June 23, 1757 at Palashi of Murshidabad District, on
the bank of Bhagirathi River. Murshidabad, which is about 150
km north of Kolkata, was then capital of West Bengal. Siraj-Ud-
Daulah, who was the last Nawab of Bengal, fought this battle to
maintain his independence as a ruler. The French East India
Company also sent a small army to join Nawab's force against the
British.

13. The army commander Mirzafar of Siraj Ud
Daulah's side betrayed in the battle of Plassey
and thereby the whole force of Nawab collapsed
and as a consequence, the entire province of
Bengal came under British. Company gained a
huge amount of wealth from the Bengal treasury
and used it to strengthen its military force. Thus
Plassey earns its importance in Indian history as
a key factor leading to the ascendance of British
rule in India. The Battle of Plassey, also named as
Battle of Palashi, which earned its name from a
small village of same name located near the
battlefield.

14. The main reason behind the Battle of Plassey was the capture of Fort
William by Siraj Ud Daulah during June 1756.

15. During the capture of Fort William an event occurred that was known as Black hole of
Kolkata. A select committee of British House of Commons placed hundred and forty-six
British prisoners in a small room measuring 18 by 15 feet and only twenty-three of the
prisoners survived that night. The story was revealed in colonial literature but the facts
were hugely altercated. Whatever was the original story, the Blackhole incident became a
reason for the Battle of Plassey.

16. The battle of Plassey started
at the very hot and humid
morning of June 23, 1757 at
about 7 am when Nawab's
army came out of camp and
launched a massive
cannonade against the English
camp. Mir Jafar stood
detached with his sixteen
thousand soldiers from the
main body of the Nawab's
army. Still Siraj was fighting
along with rest of his army and
the victory was about to come
on Nawab's side. But suddenly
Mir Madan, who was one of
the Nawab's most loyal
officers, was fatally wounded
by a cannonball of enemy. The
cannonade of the French was
not very useful as British guns
had greater range than those

17. At noon a heavy shower began. British could cover their canons and muskets but the
French was unable to cover the guns. As a result the French cannonade ceased
working in the afternoon. The Battle of Plassey resumed when British chief officer Mr.
Kilpatrick suddenly attacked against the water pond to the Nawab's army. Mir Jafar
though standing at the closest position to the English camp revealed his treachery
and refused to attack the enemy. Moreover cannonade did not come into use due to
the rainfall. So by the sunset Nawab's army was in full retreat and British had
command over the battlefield. Siraj Ud Daulah escaped from the battlefield but was
caught later. In this Battle of Plassey British lost only twenty-two army men and fifty
were wounded (most of them were native Sepoys) while on Nawab's side about five
hundred men died and wounded.

18. The Battle of Plassey is considered as the landmark of history which denoted the
starting of British dominion in the land of India.

19. Causes Of battle of Plassey
1. The illegal use of Dastaks, which were export Trade
Permits issued by the Mughal Dynasty in the year 1717. The
British used this permits as the excuse for avoid taxes to
Bengal Nawab.
2. Fort William became the safe shelter for the British and
they added additional fortification and assembled
ammunitions without the permission of Nawab.
3. The policy of the British officials was to help the Marwary
merchants such as Jagat Sheth of Murshidabad.

20. 4. The company was misusing the privileges granted to them.
5. British interfered with Nawab's court and supported one of Siraz Ud Daulah's aunt Ghaset
who was in opposition to the Nawab. Ghaseti's treasurer's son had escaped and took shel
Fort William but Siraz demanded for his return.
6. The English were adding to their fortifications without the Nawab's permission on the pre
French attack.

21. Colonial
Rule

22. Colonialism is the establishment, exploitation, maintenance,
acquisition, and expansion of colony in one territory by a
political power from another territory. It is a set of unequal
relationships between the colonial power and the colony and
often between the colonists and the indigenous population.
What is colonialism?

23. Types of
colonialism
Historians often distinguish between two overlapping forms of
colonialism:
1. Settler colonialism involves large-scale immigration, often
motivated by religious, political, or economic reasons.
2. Exploitation colonialism involves fewer colonists and focuses on
access to resources for export, typically to the metropole.

24. As colonialism often played out in pre-populated areas,
sociocultural evolution included the formation of various
ethnically hybrid populations. Colonialism gave rise to culturally
and ethnically mixed populations such as the mestizos of
the America’s, as well as racially-divided populations such as
those found in French Algeria or in Southern Rhodesia. In fact,
everywhere where colonial powers established a consistent and
continued presence, hybrid communities existed.

25. Colonial rule in India
The British came to India at the start of the seventeenth century. This was the
time when the British East India Company was established in India to break the
Dutch monopoly over spice trade. With time the East India Company increased
its powers and started to administer the country. However its policies were
disliked by Indians and together they revolted against the company. This led to
the downfall of the company and the administration of India went directly under
the Queen. In the following lines, you shall find information regarding the period
when India was under British rule. Read about the British colonialism in India.

26. The British annexed many princely states and formed laws and
policies of their own. Slowly but rapidly the entire Indian sub
continent came under the British rule. By mid nineteenth
century, the British introduced the railways, telegraph and postal
service in India. This was a move to establish their rule
permanently in India. The first railway line was from Howrah in
Calcutta to Ranging in Bihar. The introduction of telegraph and
postal services simplified communication all over the country.

27. The British passed many acts that were met with
dissatisfaction and resentment by the Indians. As a
result the Indians formed large groups and revolted
against the British. Each movement was brutally
crushed by the British forces. Leaders like Mahatma
Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Lala Rajpat Rai, Subhash
Chandra Bose, etc. arose and openly condemned the
British. They were people's leaders who inspired the
masses not to be afraid of the forces.

28. Finally after 200 years of British rule, India gained
independence from them on 15th August, 1947. Many
innocent lives were sacrificed for this achievement and
India was also separated from Pakistan. The partition of
India and Pakistan spread incidents of brutality and
horror in both the countries. But due to the effort of the
leaders and the ever sacrificing masses, India was able to
gain freedom from the British and progress till the
present times.

29. Impact of Colonial Rule on Indian society
1. The establishment of British rule in the late 18th century prompted British officials,
missionaries and scholars to acquire knowledge of the classical languages of India, of
the structure of Indian society and of values and manners of her people.
2. The economic base was primarily agricultural, the tools and implements did not
register any remarkable change through time, and arts and crafts mostly connected
with poorly developed production grew.
3. The British rule introduced the railways, the press, and the western system of
education, clubs and associations all of which shook the prevalent socio-economic
order.
4. The British rule rather systematically destroyed the native industries of India for the
benefit of the industries in Britain and their market in India.
5. It gave birth to the desire of material advancement and better amenities and living
conditions of individuals.
6. Also it gave birth to a spirit of inquiry in the minds of Indian intellectuals who came in
contact with western education.

32. Raja Ram Mohan Roy is a great
historical figure who put
laudable efforts to transform
India and dared to defy the age
old Hindu traditions.
• He undertook a lot of social
reforms to change the society
and worked to uplift the
status of women in India.
• Roy fought against Sati system.
• He was also a great scholar
who translated many books,
religious and philosophical
work and scriptures into
Bengali and also translated
Vedic scriptures into English.

33. Raja Ram Mohan Roy was an Indian
socio-educational reformer who was also
known as ‘Maker of Modern India’ and
‘Father of Modern India’ and ‘Father of
the Bengal Renaissance.’ He was born on
May 22, 1774 into a Bengali Hindu family.

34. He was the founder of the Brahmo Samaj at Kolkata in 1828.
His efforts actually led to the resumption of the ethics
principles of the Vedanta school of philosophy. He co-
founded the Calcutta Unitarian Society.

35. He extensively studied Christianity and other
religion. This made him realize that some
Hindu traditions and superstitions were
required to be reformed. He came to this
conclusion while working for the East India
Company. Apart from this he was born into a
family with religious diversity which
probably controlled his thinking. Roy was
against idol worship and propagated the
oneness of God through Brahmo Samaj..

37. He put remarkable efforts in the education system of India. To modernize the
education system, Raja Ram Mohan Roy established many English schools. He set up
the Hindu collage at Calcutta in 1822. He assisted Alexander Duff to establish the
General Assembly’s Institution. Roy promoted and urged that science, technology,
western medicine and English should be taught at Indian schools.

38. To politically educate people, Raja
Ram Mohan Roy even published
magazines in different languages
including English, Hindi, Persian and
Bengali. Noticeable magazines
published by him were the
Brahmonical Magazine, the Sambad
Kaumudiand Mirat-ul-Akbar.

39. Raja Ram Mohan Roy died on
27 September 1833 in Bristol
because
of meningitis.

40. Though India has made a
progress in some areas
and left behind certain
social evils but condition
of women is still far
behind what it should
be. Reformists like Raja
Ram Mohan Roy should
be born again in India to
remove all sorts of evils
from the society.

41. MARATHA

42. The Maratha are proud warrior race found mostly in the
state of Maharashtra.

43. The Marathas before Shivaji
The Marathas before Shivaji were Mercenaries and revenue Collectors for
the Muslim Rulers.
Shahji Bhosale, Shivaji's father, typified this practice of shifting loyalties
from one Muslim overlord to another.
The germ of this idea however seems to have got rubbed into Shivaji - his
son by Jijabai.

44. Shivaji Maharaj - the Visionary Saint-Soldier
Shivaji was born in the year 1627 at the Fort of Shivneri in Maharashtra
in Western India. Shivaji's mother Jijabai was a direct descendant of the
erstwhile Yadav royal family of Devagiri. She seems to have nursed deep
within her mind the idea of recovering independence from Muslim rule
which her Yadav forebears had lost in the year 1318. Shivaji and his
friends encouraged by Jijabai and his Guru Dadoji Kondeo decided to
take a formal oath to free the country from the shackles of Muslim
tyranny. This was done in the year 1645 in a dark cavern housing a small
temple to the Hindu God Shiva (locally called Raireshwar). This was the
beginning of a long and arduous Maratha-Mughal struggle that went on
for the next century and a half to culminate in the defeat of the Mughals
and their replacement by the Marathas as the dominant power in India.

45. The Marathas After Shivaji Maharaj - Sambhaji
After the passing away of their
illustrious leader, the Marathas fell into
relative disarray. Shivaji's eldest son
Sambhaji did not prove adequate to
the responsibility of preserving the
flame of independence to which his
father had given the initial spark.
Sambhaji was extremely fearless and
brave. Maratha chronicles refer to him
as in fact more assertive and
independent than his father.

46. Rajaram, Tarabai and Shahu
After Sambhaji's assassination, his step-brother Rajaram became the king. He
was not especially brave and is said to have been physically weak. During his
time, Aurangzeb besieged and captured Raigad. Instead of fighting the enemy,
Rajaram fled from Raigad when the fort was about to be besieged. Raigad fell
into the hands of the Mughals in 1689 when a renegade Maratha called Suryaji
Pisal betrayed the defenses of the fort to the besieging Mughals. During the
capture of Raigad, Sambhaji' wife Yesubai and his son Shahu were taken captive
by the Mughals. Rajaram's life as Chattrapati was spent mostly in fleeing from
the Mughal armies. Nevertheless during his times, the generals like Santaji
Ghorpade and Dhanaji Jadhav carried out a whirlwind guerrilla campaign to
harass the Mughal army and never let Aurangzeb rest in one place.

47. Aurangzeb's Death in 1707
When Aurangzeb died in 1707, his son Azamshah who was with him at his deathbed,
proclaimed himself the Mughal Emperor and prepared to battle his elder brother
Muaazam, who was then in Kabul. To ensure that the Marathas came over to his side,
Azamshah released Shahu who was till then held as a prisoner by the Mughals. Shahu
had been a prisoner for 18 years from 1689 up to 1707. When Shahu staked his claim to
the throne, Tarabai was ruling. The battle between the two fought at Khed went in favour
of Shahu and he became the Chattrapati. He was incidentally the last de facto
Chattrapati of the Marathas.

48. Prime Ministers Peshwas become de facto
Kings
Balaji negotiated with Kanhoji Angre and both consented to accept the other's
independent sphere of influence, with Balaji Vishwanath in charge of the Maratha
military and Kanhoji in charge of the Marathas Navy. This agreement set the course
for Balaji Viswanatha's rise as a Peshwa during his subsequent visit to Delhi with an
army of 12,000 Marathas. During this visit to Delhi, on an invitation from the Syed
brothers in their struggle with the Mughal Emperor Farrukhsiyyar, the Maratha
forces led by Balaji Viswanath clashed with the forces of Mughal Emperor and
defeated them. This was the first Maratha victory over the Mughals in Delhi. This
event marks the ascendency of the Marathas in Delhi which lasted for almost a
century till they were supplanted by the British in 1803.

49. The Peshwas - Baji Rao, Balaji Baji Rao, Madhav
Rao
After Shahu, the de facto executive power passed
into the hands of the hereditary Prime Ministers or
the Peshwas. Balaji Viawanath Bhatt was succeeded
by his son Baji Rao the first. Baji Rao was a very
able and ambitious soldier and he was the one who
consolidated Maratha power in North India.

50. Thank you