From Small Beginnings

From Small Beginnings

1988 7 July 26-27 From Small Beginnings (506) They were content to start in a small way, and then progress from that point to much higher things. History teaches us what great things can be achieved from small beginnings, provided we pursue our ends with intelligence and persistence, but how many of us are prepared to learn this lesson?

The story of foreign ascendancy over India at the beginning of the 17th century is not one of major onslaughts and massive invasion but of a piecemeal, almost fragmentary approach which nevertheless built up gradually from small, insignificant beginnings into the mighty inverted pyramid of overseas imperialism. For example, after Jehangir had issued an edict permitting the English to establish a factory at Surat, “the English Company sent an accredited ambassador of the King of England, James I, to the Mughal court with a view to concluding a commercial treaty with the Emperor. The person chosen was Sir Thomas Roe, who was ‘of pregnant understanding, well spoken, learned, industrious, and of a comely personage.’ Roe remained constantly at Jehangir’s court from 1615 to 1618.” (An Advanced History of India, p. 629). Jehangir used to invite him frequently to his court to have discussions with him, one of Roe’s many talents being his ability to speak Turkish, so that he could converse directly with the Emperor. He also curried favour with him by catering for his special tastes. For example, he discovered that Jehangir was very interested in painting, so he presented him with a painting which the Emperor greatly appreciated. When their relationship was at its most cordial, Roe decided that the time was ripe to place his request for the commercial treaty before him, “and though certain factors prevented him from concluding any definite commercial treaty with the Mughal Emperor, he succeeded in securing several privileges for the Company, particularly the permission to erect factories in certain places within the Empire Before Roe left India in February 1619, the English had established factories at Surat, Agra, Ahmedabad and Broach. All these were placed under the control of the President and Council of the Surat factory, who had also the power to control the Company’s trade with the Red Sea ports and Persia“ (p. 629).

Gaining permission to open a commercial company in a city of India was apparently a move of very minor importance, considering that the whole, vast country still remained in the hands of the Mughal emperor. All the objects of glory and splendour, all the manifestations of power and might were in the hands of others. But the mere establishment of that factory at Surat was the thin edge of the wedge, as far as the English were concerned, which would finally lead them to the possession of all else. They were content to start in a small way, and then progress from that point to much higher things. History teaches us what great things can be achieved from small beginnings, provided we pursue our ends with intelligence and persistence, but how many of us are prepared to learn this lesson?