The study investigates how the opium trade not only addressed Britain's trade imbalance with Chin... more The study investigates how the opium trade not only addressed Britain's trade imbalance with China and assisted in managing the East India Company's debts during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century but also significantly influenced the socioeconomic structures in the regions of Malwa and Bihar/Benares. It underscores the mechanism with which the British government leveraged opium as a strategic economic tool, profoundly affecting the agrarian landscape in India as well as altering the course of international trade and highlights the involvement of peasant households in opium cultivation, the emergence of opium as a major foreign exchange earner, and the development of a new drug culture in China. It argues that British colonial interests were primarily responsible for creating this culture to enhance their profits. The paper seeks to provide a nuanced understanding of the opium trade's role in reshaping regional dynamics and the intricacies of colonial power.
The British opium monopoly in colonial India underwent significant transformation through a serie... more The British opium monopoly in colonial India underwent significant transformation through a series of strategic interventions aimed at enhancing production efficiency. Efforts spanned from seed selection to factory processing, with substantial investments in irrigation and cost-cutting measures. Despite the pervasive role of coercion, technological and managerial innovations were crucial. The monopoly faced challenges from other suppliers, the need for product uniformity in an export market, and the natural variability of opium. Continuous adaptation and innovation were necessary to sustain profitability. This paper studies measures such as hydraulic machinery, improved packaging, and financial incentives for innovation, highlighting the complex interplay between economic imperatives and operational challenges. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the British opium monopoly's economic and operational dynamics.
International Journal of Applied Social Science, 2024
The opium monopoly in colonial India was a crucial component of British economic strategy, profou... more The opium monopoly in colonial India was a crucial component of British economic strategy, profoundly affecting both local agriculture and global trade. This paper delves into the contract system of opium production introduced by Warren Hastings in 1773, examining its profound implementation on the Bengal presidency. The intricate mechanisms of colonial administration through a detailed examination of the contract system's functioning, the key contractors, and an evaluation of regulations designed to maximize the East India Company's profits. The paper highlights the economic and administrative strategies employed by the British prioritizing the maximum profits and transforming the production and trade practices in colonial India.
The underpinnings of the national movement of India were reclined and explicitly motivated by the... more The underpinnings of the national movement of India were reclined and explicitly motivated by the sense of pride in the achievements and practises of Indian philosophies and traditions. There is a largest civilizational history of India, which was evidently and collectively reflective of shared foundations against the colonization of India. It wasn't only accumulating against the struggle for political freedom, but also reflected the prodigious importance of the educational, cultural, and social aspects of the masses. There wasn't any single idea or philosophy, and India does not have a unique single founding father, which led to the national movement and fought against the British colonization but collective ideas and philosophies were undeniably guiding the national movement. The philosophies of unity, ahimsa, and swaraj were together and cooperatively participated in a responsible way for the success of the national movement despite communalism. The uprisings and revolts during the phases of national movements were an indication for the raj, that kernels of the national movement are encouraged by the philosophies of the Indian culture and traditions. This article will critically discuss the ideas and philosophies that have encouraged and contributed to the fundamental underpinnings of the national movement of India.
The Contagious Disease Act was a series of legislative measures enacted in 19th-century colonial ... more The Contagious Disease Act was a series of legislative measures enacted in 19th-century colonial India and later in England, Scotland, and Ireland. These acts aimed to combat sexually transmitted diseases, particularly syphilis and gonorrhoea, by implementing mandatory medical examinations and treating women on the street. The rationale behind these acts was to protect the health of the military by preventing the spread of sexually transmitted infections. However, the act specifically targeted women involved in prostitution, largely ignoring the role of men in spreading the disease. This paper examines the unique history of prostitution in 19th-century colonial India, focusing on the intersection of legal, social, and moral dimensions under British rule. It explores the implementation of the Contagious Diseases Acts, which introduced Victorian moral values into Indian law, aimed at controlling female sexuality and venereal diseases among British troops. The analysis highlights the complex dynamics of power, gender, and class, revealing how these laws affected the social standing of women engaged in prostitution and the broader implications for Indian society. Through a critical examination of colonial and indigenous responses, this study underscores the lasting impact of colonial legal frameworks on contemporary social and legal challenges in India, contributing to a deeper understanding of the colonial legacy on gender and morality.
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Papers by vigya tripathi