The Main Aspects of the English Policy in Bengal in the 17th Century

Summary

In 'Aspects of the English Policy in Bengal in the 17th Century' Kh. A. Haye analyses the East India Company’s early interactions with Mughal Bengal. The article divides English policy into three aspects: relations with the Mughal government, dealings with the people of the province and the social influence of English settlers. At first the Company adopted a humble policy, seeking trade privileges through diplomacy. Letters from James I to Emperor Jahangir and agreements negotiated by William Hawkins and Sir Thomas Roe earned the English the right to establish factories at Surat, Masulipatam and later at Hooghly. Haye notes that the English were careful not to offend local authorities; they paid customs duties and sought protection from the Subahdar of Bengal. However, the relations were strained by Portuguese jealousy and occasional seizures of English goods. The article recounts incidents like the capture of the English factory at Hooghly by Shah Shuja’s forces and the imprisonment of factory members. In response, the Company sometimes resorted to force: in 1652 they seized the Portuguese settlement at Hooghly and in the 1680s they bombarded the port of Chittagong. Haye emphasises that even when the Company used violence, it continued to petition Mughal officials for farmans granting duty‑free trade. The second aspect of policy concerns dealings with Bengal’s population. English factors learned local languages, formed partnerships with Indian merchants, and adapted to social customs. They purchased goods like raw silk, saltpetre and cotton, employing local brokers and artisans. The article also describes conflicts arising from private trade and abuses by Company employees, which angered Mughal officials. The third aspect examines social influence: Englishmen married Indian women, adopted indigenous dress and cuisine, and some converted to Islam or Hinduism. These interactions facilitated cultural exchange but also raised concerns about moral laxity among Company servants. Haye concludes that the English policy in the seventeenth century was a blend of conciliation and coercion. While seeking to profit from Bengal’s wealth, the Company navigated a complex web of Mughal authority, local interests and European rivalries. These early experiences shaped later English strategies that culminated in the conquest of Bengal in 1757.