Entrepreneurship in the Age of Empire: Colonialism, Collaboration and Exploitation

This book explores the India and Eastern Trading Company Limited, a London-registered company established in 1906 to finance a jute plantation in Assam, India. It analyzes the company's international management and its connections with a multinational cast of merchants, promoters, mining engineers, politicians, and industrialists, revealing the complex web of relationships that shaped the company and the broader socio-political and economic environment of the late-Victorian period to the interwar.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 280 pages
Publication date: 01 August 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This book delves into the intricate dance of politics and commerce during a pivotal era in British history, shedding light on the remarkable story of the India and Eastern Trading Company Limited. Established in 1906, this London-registered company was formed with the sole purpose of financing a jute plantation in Assam, northeast India. As the late-Victorian period transitioned into the interwar era, a significant shift occurred in the commercial landscape, marked by the rise of speculative investment and the marketing of ideas. By examining the activities of this multinational corporation and its international management, we gain a unique perspective on the broader socio-political and economic environment of this time.

The India and Eastern Trading Company Limited was a network of diverse individuals bound by a shared vision of empire-building. Merchants, company promoters, mining engineers, politicians, and industrialists from various countries came together to form this conglomerate. Through meticulous research, this book uncovers the intricate web of connections that created this network of association. It reveals the multifaceted strands that coalesced to form one share company, showcasing the complex interplay of interests and ambitions that drove its operations.

By delving into the responses of these individuals to the opportunities and challenges presented by colonialism, this book offers a fresh perspective on an important era in British history. It explores their reactions to enabling legislations, setbacks, competition, collaboration, internationalism, and rising nationalism. The India and Eastern Trading Company Limited played a significant role in shaping the course of British imperialism, and its story continues to resonate in the present day.

This book is not only a valuable resource for historians and scholars but also for anyone interested in understanding the complex dynamics of power, politics, and commerce in the early twentieth century. It sheds light on the lesser-known aspects of imperialism and provides a deeper understanding of the intricate web of relationships that shaped the world during this transformative period.

Weight: 520g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367513573