Book Review: Imperialism at Work: Crow’s Report and Dispatches on Sind Edited by Mubarik Ali

 

This edited book is Crow’s account which covers themes such as history, geography, climate, soil, flora, fauna, languages, attire, occupation, revenue, military forces and fortifications of Sind. At the end of the eighteen century the East India Company had established its political domination in India. It was assumed that Russia in alliance with Persia and Afghanistan would attempt to dismantle the Company’s power in India. Zaman Shah came to power in Afghanistan in 1793 which created anxiety among the Marathas ad the company. The rulers of Sind at that time were the Talpurs who recognized the over lordship of Afghanistan and paid tribute to the Afghan King.

The Mirs of Sind were not fully secure as they feared Miyan Abd al-Nabi, the ousted Kalhora ruler who might return with the support of Zaman Shah. Therefore, the Mirs wanted to have friendly relations with the British to get help in case of any Afghan aggression.

Duncan chose a Persian Merchant Agha Abul Hasan as an envoy and sent him to the court of Sind to assess the political situation and the attitude of the Mirs towards the British government. He was given two letters. The one for Mir Fateh Ali was to request the approval of opening the company to reopen a factory at Thatta and to allow an official mission to Sind to finalize the terms and conditions. The hidden agenda of the British of reopening of the factory had more political advantages than commercial advantages.

The first commercial-cum-political mission arrived in Sind under Nathan Crow, a civil servant of the Bombay government. He was advised to observe the movements of Zaman Shah and win over the friendship of the Mirs (p. 3). He landed for the first time in Karachi in May 1799.

Crow was ordered in October 1800 to close the factory at Thatta and leave Sind. Crow stayed in Sind for 17 months. During this time, he very closely observed and studied the social, political and economic condition of Sind. He repeatedly visited the court and assessed the traits of their character and attempted to lobby for the British. He employed a number of agents through whom he gathered information regarding the country. Crow’s correspondence with Duncan shows that the real motives of the British in Sind were political.