The word opium evokes passions and sensitivities in Chinese who fought the opium war, while in India it is a forgotten history.
Today Indian states of Rajasthan and Punjab are fighting an unseen war against the insurgence of substance abuse among the youngsters living in these states.
The profile of an average consumer is young, employed, lower middle class. I read somewhere, compared to alcohol, drugs are less expensive and dont have as much ill effect on health, making it ideal for "recreation" by a man of lesser income.
Going by stats
India has long had a history of opium use. Indians used it as a medicine, as early as 9th century,the most common use was a pain-reliever.
Malwa Opium and Rajputana
Not many here might know that the Malwa region is one of the largest producers of legal opium in the world today. A lot of merchants from the western states of India,it is said,accumulated their wealth through opium trade to China, especially those from the Scindia state. Today we know them as the "Marwarees".
The valiant warriors, Rajputs, were known to take opium before they went for a war. It is also said that the opium was given to the widows to pacify them and also to prepare them for a ritual known as Sati. [2]
Opium trade was the unifying factor for the transitional economies of Malwa,Rajasthan,Gujarat,Kachch and Konkan.
In 1879, G.R.Mackay attributed the downfall of Rajputs to not just political eclipse caused by Britishers but also to the deleterious effect of opium. [4]
The port city of Bombay and the Parsis
How can one forget that it was the opium trade, it's smuggling, and the fabulous wealth it generated that lead to building of the city Bombay, or Mumbai as we know it today.
Many communities tried their hand at opium trade but it was only the Parsis who were really successful, this can be attributed to their adaptability and willingness to travel the seas.
Interestingly,the first moves to promote trade within Asia were initiated by the Dutch. Unlike British, who used the port in Kolkatta for trade (Calcutta), Dutch were based in Surat. The Parsis lived in Surat till the Bombay port was developed. Soon the opium trade to China flourished. Ching dynasty had allotted a river side land for the British and American merchants, from where they used to codify their business. By the end of 18th century,British had supplanted Dutch in India. A lot of Parsis, they say, used to live in British buildings built in Canton (China). This is where Parsis acquired a taste for European things from Chandeliers to wooden furnitures. After the opium wars,guilt ridden merchants switched to textile manufacturing.
The Parsis brought wealth into the city of Bombay and led to the boom of Banking and Insurance business in the city. This boom in business, banking and insurance would later build the foundation of India’s financial capital.
The growth of the opium trade had much to do with trade reciprocity and the British appetite for tea. Sweetened tea had become an item of mass consumption in Britain, which also fuelled demand for Caribbean sugar which in turn resulted in the export of indentured labor from India. Indenture system was a form of debt bondage. Close to 3.5million Indians were shipped to European colonies in different parts of the world. Don't know why it also reminds of Suni Phillipe Narine (the Indian origin West-Indies cricket player).
Patna Opium and the rise of East India company.
It is said that a large government storehouse in Patna was used to store “Patna Opium”,which had a pivotal impact on politics, trade & societies of South Asia, Europe & America in between middle of 18th century to early 20th century. In 1911, the building was converted to a printing press. The building still stands.
After the Battel of Plassey (1757),East India company had formed a shadow government in Bengal,Bihar and parts of Orissa. It is from here that a large chunk of their opium trade was conducted. But Britishers were facing a problem in China- they could not make it inroads. Limited to Canton riverside buildings, Britishers cunningly decided to switch to opium trade. Opium had a huge market in China. This lucrative business led to conversion of agricultural fertile lands of Bengal and Bihar into poppy fields. It drove thousands of poor farmers off their lands, it is these farmers who were later shipped to the Caribbean as indentured laborers, as I mentioned earlier.
Emily Eden, one of the eminent British novelists of eighteenth century had this to say about the factory in Ghazipur "they wash every workman who comes out; because the little boys even, who are employed in making it up, will contrive to roll about in it, and that the washing of a little boy well rolled in opium is worth for four annas (or six pense) in the bazaar, if he can escape to it".
Opium balls- stacking room, Patna factory. [3]
Opium war and Indian soldiers
The Opium wars which erupted one hundred and seventy years ago between the Chinese Qing Empire and the British empire has to a large extent shaped the modern China.
Opium trade led to a reversal of the British trade deficit with China but it wreaked havoc on Chinese society as thousands of rich and poor Chinese alike were addicted to this drug. This societal degradation led the Chinese to ban trade on opium.
This action didn’t go down well with the English and they declared war on China. The war in China was not fought by only British and Chinese soldiers,Indian soldiers were also involved in the battles of the Opium war. 1 coy Madras Rifles, 2nd Madras native infantry, 6th Madras Native Infantry and the 14th native Madras infantry of the Madras Army took part in the 1st opium war. The Indian sepoys were widely used in the battles of Canton, Amoy etc. Needless to say Indian soldiers were racially abused and the slave army was used to defeat Chinese.
Once defeated, Chinese were forced to pay a huge indemnity, cede Hong Kong to the British and open their markets to western capitalists. This war is an example of how colonial powers used their military prowess to economically subjugate Asian countries and undermine the sovereignty of Asian rulers.
Opium war of sorts in present day
Almost 200 years after the opium wars, the basic nature of geopolitics hasn't changed much. The western countries are still attempting to vanquish one Asian giant using the resources of another. India is incessantly coaxed to join the western security apparatus to "contain" China.
Under the garb of IMF aid,poor countries and their markets are opened to enjoy the "fruits" of western capitalism.
Opium wars and its relation to India needs to be researched upon because they say, history is the best teacher to mankind.
*************************
@WAJsal @Star Wars @thesolar65
I think I have utilised my EID holidays well. Haven't gone into depths of the 2 opium wars for I planned to write only a short and crisp article.
Members,
please feel free to participate and point out historical inaccuracies in my article or to add to the content of this article.
Thank you.
Today Indian states of Rajasthan and Punjab are fighting an unseen war against the insurgence of substance abuse among the youngsters living in these states.
The profile of an average consumer is young, employed, lower middle class. I read somewhere, compared to alcohol, drugs are less expensive and dont have as much ill effect on health, making it ideal for "recreation" by a man of lesser income.
Going by stats
- In 1998, a case of drug smuggling was registered every 92 hours in Punjab
- In 2000, a case was registered every 36 hrs
- In 2014, a drug smuggling case was lodged every 35 minutes [1]
India has long had a history of opium use. Indians used it as a medicine, as early as 9th century,the most common use was a pain-reliever.
Malwa Opium and Rajputana
Not many here might know that the Malwa region is one of the largest producers of legal opium in the world today. A lot of merchants from the western states of India,it is said,accumulated their wealth through opium trade to China, especially those from the Scindia state. Today we know them as the "Marwarees".
The valiant warriors, Rajputs, were known to take opium before they went for a war. It is also said that the opium was given to the widows to pacify them and also to prepare them for a ritual known as Sati. [2]
Opium trade was the unifying factor for the transitional economies of Malwa,Rajasthan,Gujarat,Kachch and Konkan.
In 1879, G.R.Mackay attributed the downfall of Rajputs to not just political eclipse caused by Britishers but also to the deleterious effect of opium. [4]
The port city of Bombay and the Parsis
How can one forget that it was the opium trade, it's smuggling, and the fabulous wealth it generated that lead to building of the city Bombay, or Mumbai as we know it today.
Many communities tried their hand at opium trade but it was only the Parsis who were really successful, this can be attributed to their adaptability and willingness to travel the seas.
Interestingly,the first moves to promote trade within Asia were initiated by the Dutch. Unlike British, who used the port in Kolkatta for trade (Calcutta), Dutch were based in Surat. The Parsis lived in Surat till the Bombay port was developed. Soon the opium trade to China flourished. Ching dynasty had allotted a river side land for the British and American merchants, from where they used to codify their business. By the end of 18th century,British had supplanted Dutch in India. A lot of Parsis, they say, used to live in British buildings built in Canton (China). This is where Parsis acquired a taste for European things from Chandeliers to wooden furnitures. After the opium wars,guilt ridden merchants switched to textile manufacturing.
The Parsis brought wealth into the city of Bombay and led to the boom of Banking and Insurance business in the city. This boom in business, banking and insurance would later build the foundation of India’s financial capital.
The growth of the opium trade had much to do with trade reciprocity and the British appetite for tea. Sweetened tea had become an item of mass consumption in Britain, which also fuelled demand for Caribbean sugar which in turn resulted in the export of indentured labor from India. Indenture system was a form of debt bondage. Close to 3.5million Indians were shipped to European colonies in different parts of the world. Don't know why it also reminds of Suni Phillipe Narine (the Indian origin West-Indies cricket player).
Patna Opium and the rise of East India company.
It is said that a large government storehouse in Patna was used to store “Patna Opium”,which had a pivotal impact on politics, trade & societies of South Asia, Europe & America in between middle of 18th century to early 20th century. In 1911, the building was converted to a printing press. The building still stands.
After the Battel of Plassey (1757),East India company had formed a shadow government in Bengal,Bihar and parts of Orissa. It is from here that a large chunk of their opium trade was conducted. But Britishers were facing a problem in China- they could not make it inroads. Limited to Canton riverside buildings, Britishers cunningly decided to switch to opium trade. Opium had a huge market in China. This lucrative business led to conversion of agricultural fertile lands of Bengal and Bihar into poppy fields. It drove thousands of poor farmers off their lands, it is these farmers who were later shipped to the Caribbean as indentured laborers, as I mentioned earlier.
Emily Eden, one of the eminent British novelists of eighteenth century had this to say about the factory in Ghazipur "they wash every workman who comes out; because the little boys even, who are employed in making it up, will contrive to roll about in it, and that the washing of a little boy well rolled in opium is worth for four annas (or six pense) in the bazaar, if he can escape to it".
Opium balls- stacking room, Patna factory. [3]
Opium war and Indian soldiers
The Opium wars which erupted one hundred and seventy years ago between the Chinese Qing Empire and the British empire has to a large extent shaped the modern China.
Opium trade led to a reversal of the British trade deficit with China but it wreaked havoc on Chinese society as thousands of rich and poor Chinese alike were addicted to this drug. This societal degradation led the Chinese to ban trade on opium.
This action didn’t go down well with the English and they declared war on China. The war in China was not fought by only British and Chinese soldiers,Indian soldiers were also involved in the battles of the Opium war. 1 coy Madras Rifles, 2nd Madras native infantry, 6th Madras Native Infantry and the 14th native Madras infantry of the Madras Army took part in the 1st opium war. The Indian sepoys were widely used in the battles of Canton, Amoy etc. Needless to say Indian soldiers were racially abused and the slave army was used to defeat Chinese.
Once defeated, Chinese were forced to pay a huge indemnity, cede Hong Kong to the British and open their markets to western capitalists. This war is an example of how colonial powers used their military prowess to economically subjugate Asian countries and undermine the sovereignty of Asian rulers.
Opium war of sorts in present day
Almost 200 years after the opium wars, the basic nature of geopolitics hasn't changed much. The western countries are still attempting to vanquish one Asian giant using the resources of another. India is incessantly coaxed to join the western security apparatus to "contain" China.
Under the garb of IMF aid,poor countries and their markets are opened to enjoy the "fruits" of western capitalism.
Opium wars and its relation to India needs to be researched upon because they say, history is the best teacher to mankind.
*************************
@WAJsal @Star Wars @thesolar65
I think I have utilised my EID holidays well. Haven't gone into depths of the 2 opium wars for I planned to write only a short and crisp article.
Members,
please feel free to participate and point out historical inaccuracies in my article or to add to the content of this article.
Thank you.
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