Q. With reference to the evolution of British intentions in India, consider the following statements:
1.The initial primary trade motive of the EIC shifted from spices and pepper to fine cotton textiles, leading to a focus on politically dominating the textile-producing regions of Bengal and the Coromandel Coast.
2.The EIC’s transition from a purely commercial to a political power was significantly accelerated by the need to secure the massive revenue from the Diwani of Bengal after the Battle of Buxar.
3.The rise of strong, centralized regional Indian powers in the 18th century was the most significant factor that forced the British to abandon their initial commercial motives for political expansion.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: B
Notes:
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is correct. After the Dutch expelled the English from the Spice Islands (Amboyna Massacre, 1623), the EIC shifted focus to the Indian subcontinent, where textiles became their most important export, necessitating political control over supply centers like Bengal.
- Statement 2 is correct. The acquisition of the Diwani (revenue collection rights) over Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha in 1765 after the Battle of Buxar transformed the EIC into a major territorial power and provided the financial resources for further imperial ambitions.
- Statement 3 is incorrect. It was the decay and weakness of Indian powers, particularly the collapse of central Mughal authority and the ensuing anarchy (e.g., in the Carnatic and Bengal), that encouraged and facilitated European military and political intervention.
