East India Company (EICo).

New Delhi. 29 June: Two great shows by BBC. "BEECHAM HOUSE" and "TABOO"(2017). Both were centred around East India Company. 

Under the Auspices of the
Sovereign and Senate of England.
Image Courtesy: Commons.

The Honourable East India Company (EICo) as it was officially called was a trading company started by Merchants of London in 1600 AD. Though it was initially started solely as a company to deal in the exotic goods of the orient; It soon evolved into a Parallel Government holding vast swathes of Geography and controlling own Armies on a near global scale. We can also see the EICo as an extension or Predecessor to the British Empire.

Dara Shikoh Library.
Image Courtesy : Dr. William Dalrymple.

Beecham House, directed by our very own Gurinder Chaddha is the story of an 18th century EICo officer named John Beecham. Mr. Beecham got disillusioned with the life of Company rule and moved to Mughal Delhi to start a business. Full of French Mercenaries, Decline of Mughal Empire, Red-coats and nostalgia. After watching it I just wanted to visit the "Fraser House" of Delhi which was established by a EICo officer named William Fraser in early 19th Century. We can get a glimpse of Mr. Fraser and his era in William Dalrymple's epic book "City of Djinns". These British era structures are still standing in the Kashmere Gate area of Delhi. In fact if you roam on Lothian Road, or Behind the narrow alleys of Tis Hazari, you get same kind of Nostalgic feeling as if you have got some 300 years back in time. During my college days, I used to stand opposite to “Dara Shikoh Library”, and used to admire the beauty of this Mughal era structure, where once the mighty Dara Shikoh used to enjoy the company of his books. This same library also served as the site of British Residency, and both Major General Sir David Ochetorlony, and Major William Fraser (Skinner’s Horse Regiment) used to operate from here. You can stand in the garden opposite to the library, hold your breath and can get enthralled by the sight of this mighty structure.

Taboo, is about another EICo officer James Delaney who returned to England after spending many years in Africa. This show depicts

Taboo.
Image Courtesy: Morning Picker

the ruthlessness and cunningness of the Court of Directors of the EICo. They funded private and illegal campaigns, dealing in Slaves yet denied officially, any knowledge of it. They tried to usurp the wealth of individuals like Delaney, and in doing so, had crossed every line of law, legislature and morality. The Company was the Rule and the Company was the Justice.

We can brand the EICo as a ruthless company, an oppressive Imperial Force; Yet we can not deny the impact of this Majestic Company over our modern world which we owe to them. The impact of Corporate World on modern day Politics and the functionings of every modern day company and the institution of their Board of Directors are all evolved from EICo. 

Every era of History is full of nostalgia, we must learn from it somehow as a neutral observer, not taking any sides.