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SURAT: FALL OF PORT RISE OF A PRINCE
The ships of the English East India Company first docked at India’s shores in Surat in the early 17th century. In time, the Company through astute politics and superior naval power would become masters of this great port, but not with the objective of building on its legacy as India’s emporia of maritime trade but with the single minded goal of destroying its trading prowess. And they did this by overcoming the local princes and fostering corrupt practices. By 1800 the port had been completely annexed and a Treaty signed with the Nawab that would guarantee his family’s security from generation to generation. But the Company violated the treaty by stopping the family’s income, usurping the palaces, estates, jewellery and all that was part of the private estates of the Nawab, leaving the infant granddaughters of the last Nawab on the brink of destitution. In a riveting counterattack Meer Jafar Ali Khan, father of the two infant girls stood to defy an Empire and expose the corrupt practices of the Company in Victorian England. Spearheading a legal offensive that would shatter the Company’s reputation, Meer Jafar Ali Khan’s campaign for justice generated great heat and debate in British Parliament. Fighting against all odds this prince won it all back for his daughters and found true love in Victorian England.
- GenresHistoryNonfiction
248 pages, Paperback
Published December 13, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 1, 2022
Generally in the British Raj, the image of the Indian Princes with few exceptions is normally of being vain, drained in their own affairs and wealth, uncaring of the people around, of being compliant in many cases with the British. However out of the lot, there comes a rare tale of a Prince of a city-state who fought for his daughters’ rights and challenged the might of the East India Company in their own space i.e., in the British Parliament, and this is the tale of Surat and the Prince, Meer Jafar Ali Khan Bahadoor narrated by Moin Mir of the same family.
The book starts well explaining the rise of Surat from the Mughal times, and the bustling and varied people who populated the city. It was also one of the entry points for the East India Company to get a foothold during Jahangir’s rule, with Surat establishing itself as the maritime centre of the Mughal Empire. It then moves to give the context of Tegh Bakht Khan who established himself as the 1st Nawab of Surat as an independent city-state. Subsequently it takes us through the struggles between the subsequent Nawabs and the East India Company till 1800 when the Treaty was signed between East India Company and Nawab Nasiruddin Khan where the Company annexed Surat with an guarantee of pension to Nawab and his heirs in perpetuity, and allowed to keep the estates and share of city’s revenues.
As expected from East India Company, they planned to reneged on this promise and to counter this, the Nawab of Surat married his daughter to Meer Jafar the prince of Kamandiyah, making him and his granddaughters the heirs of Surat but to no avail. Meer Jafar then took the bold and audacious step of challenging the Company in England making 2 visits in 1844 and 1853 and winning a victory by passing of a private Bill in Parliament (in House of Commons) for his rights before getting the Company to do the needful.
It is an absolutely stirring tale and, in most parts, especially till the middle, the author keeps you engaged with his crisp narration and focus. The book beings to falter a bit when the author tries to portray Meer Jafar as a superhero taking on the might of the Company rather than as a more human person having his own fallings as well. While the audacity and the resilience of the Prince is much appreciated and is largely unknown, this part of the narrative jars a bit. The author also veers from the fact-based narrative in the latter half, when he tries to imagine the feeling and emotions of the Prince and his team and sometimes also gets distracted in the social life of the Prince in England. The characters in the tale are actually quite interesting, especially Meer Jafar’s 2nd wife- Basti and Mary Jane, his love interest who comes from England to Surat with him at the end of the case but the narrative in this later part works in bits and spurts.
However the tale itself is inspiring, and some relatively unknown elements also emerge for e.g. the East Indian Company actively scuttling Surat as a trade port in favour of Bombay(Mumbai).
In summary, the book is worth a read about this resilient Prince who fought and got justice in a foreign land, and saved his family’s inheritance.
The book starts well explaining the rise of Surat from the Mughal times, and the bustling and varied people who populated the city. It was also one of the entry points for the East India Company to get a foothold during Jahangir’s rule, with Surat establishing itself as the maritime centre of the Mughal Empire. It then moves to give the context of Tegh Bakht Khan who established himself as the 1st Nawab of Surat as an independent city-state. Subsequently it takes us through the struggles between the subsequent Nawabs and the East India Company till 1800 when the Treaty was signed between East India Company and Nawab Nasiruddin Khan where the Company annexed Surat with an guarantee of pension to Nawab and his heirs in perpetuity, and allowed to keep the estates and share of city’s revenues.
As expected from East India Company, they planned to reneged on this promise and to counter this, the Nawab of Surat married his daughter to Meer Jafar the prince of Kamandiyah, making him and his granddaughters the heirs of Surat but to no avail. Meer Jafar then took the bold and audacious step of challenging the Company in England making 2 visits in 1844 and 1853 and winning a victory by passing of a private Bill in Parliament (in House of Commons) for his rights before getting the Company to do the needful.
It is an absolutely stirring tale and, in most parts, especially till the middle, the author keeps you engaged with his crisp narration and focus. The book beings to falter a bit when the author tries to portray Meer Jafar as a superhero taking on the might of the Company rather than as a more human person having his own fallings as well. While the audacity and the resilience of the Prince is much appreciated and is largely unknown, this part of the narrative jars a bit. The author also veers from the fact-based narrative in the latter half, when he tries to imagine the feeling and emotions of the Prince and his team and sometimes also gets distracted in the social life of the Prince in England. The characters in the tale are actually quite interesting, especially Meer Jafar’s 2nd wife- Basti and Mary Jane, his love interest who comes from England to Surat with him at the end of the case but the narrative in this later part works in bits and spurts.
However the tale itself is inspiring, and some relatively unknown elements also emerge for e.g. the East Indian Company actively scuttling Surat as a trade port in favour of Bombay(Mumbai).
In summary, the book is worth a read about this resilient Prince who fought and got justice in a foreign land, and saved his family’s inheritance.
September 15, 2018
The book chronicles the fight of a prince against the East India Company's injustices and high handedness. Instead of resorting to violence, the prince, Meer Jafar Ali Khan, knocks the doors of the English parliament to get justice. How he travels to England, his strategies and patience forms the story.
It is an even paced narrative given that there are no fights, wars or showdowns. Full credit to the author Moin Mir who keeps the reader engrossed with just the legal and political events. A different book to the ones that are available on the British Raj. Highly recommended for those interested in Indian history.
It is an even paced narrative given that there are no fights, wars or showdowns. Full credit to the author Moin Mir who keeps the reader engrossed with just the legal and political events. A different book to the ones that are available on the British Raj. Highly recommended for those interested in Indian history.
March 29, 2019
Creative Non fiction at its best. I wonder how this wonderful story hadn't been told yet. Moin Mir writes brilliantly weaving facts and imagination together in a coherent fabric - Drama, history, betrayal, assassinations, and a passionate debate in the English parliament against the most powerful company in the world, this story has it all. And this story is TRUE. Two hundred pages weren't enough to quench my curiosity entirely but it was definitely a good and compelling read. Would recommend this to anyone who is interested in Indian/English History.
November 19, 2020
There was so much that I didn’t know about my city - Surat.
January 28, 2021
Glad to know about a section of Indian History that has not been covered by any school textbook.
January 17, 2018
A beautiful portrait of Surat in the 1600s through to the 1800s about a bustling city of mixed ethnicities going about its business of trade and commerce. Into this mosaic of havelis and horses, princes and tehzeeb, the Mughal Emperor Jehangir grants a license to trade with the East India Company turning the tide for India forever. Due to the draconian Doctrine of Lapse, Jafar Mir's daughter's cannot inherit their legacy. As there is no male heir, he has to fight for the legacy of his daughters. This he does in London, on the home turf of that company. Moin Mir paints a vivid picture of the life and times of Jafar Mir and his struggle to be heard in the British Parliament.
February 6, 2019
Interesting and catchy book on fight of an indian prince of surat against company raj atrocities on his family carrying fight upto the then british parliament and succeeding
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews