Mr Stephen Luscombe's Interview Transcript
_____________________________________________________________________________
Date: Wed, 8 May 2013 18:32:21 +0100
Subject: Re: Hello from Aditya Mathur
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Dear Mr. Luscombe,
Thank you so much for a really prompt reply.
I am doing a National History Day Project on the Battle of Plassey, the topic this year was "Turning Points in History". I have a few questions to ask you, where I think you could be of most help to me.
1. I would like to know in your opinion how the Battle of Plassey was a turning point in the history of India.
The Battle of Plassey was the culmination of the British East India Company competing with the French East India for European domination of trade and power in the Indian sub-continent. Britain's victory at the battle helped ensure that they, rather than the French, would become the prime European power there. It also signalled that the Mughal Empire was in terminal decline and was finding it too difficult to impose its will and power over potential rivals without the support and aid of foreign powers – like Britain. The Mughals were the last of the great local empires who could have potentially resisted European domination. Instead, they allowed the British to become an active participant in the power politics of the region.
2. How did it effect Britain?
At the time, people did not realise how important the victory was. They did not realise that it had opened the doors for the British East India Company to change from a trading company – bringing spices and exotic goods to Europe from Asia – to a governing body – raising taxes. Using European technology like muskets, modern artillery and sailing ships they were able to gain control over a greater and greater area of India. The more land they had, the more they could raise from taxes. In hindsight, India would grow to become the most important of Britain's colonies. Just a few decades later, Britain would lose the 13 colonies, and yet India would end up replacing in economic and strategic importance these American colonies.
3. What was the impact of this British victory on British Imperialism in Asia?
As the British East India Company became more richer and more powerful, it was able to trade and interact on a wider regional basis. It looked for new markets and goods to sell and buy goods from. The most important of these would be China. Britain set up a base in Singapore to help it control the trade between these enormously important markets of China and India. There was also the issue of security. By having such a rich and powerful colony, Britain wanted to protect it, meaning that it acquired buffer colonies to attempt to protect India – so Burma, Nepal, Tibet the Punjab, Aden, Afghanistan, the Suez Canal (when it was built) all came into the British orbit at times in an attempt to control the access to India.
I would be grateful if you could reply to me at your earliest as I need to submit my entry on the 12th of May.
Thanking you in Anticipation,
Aditya Mathur
_____________________________________________________________________________________
From: Aditya Mathur <[email protected]>
Date: Wednesday, 8 May 2013 17:20
To: Stephen Luscombe Owner <[email protected]>
Subject: RE: Hello from Aditya Mathur
Dear Mr. Luscombe,
Thank you so much for a really prompt reply.
I am doing a National History Day Project on the Battle of Plassey, the topic this year was "Turning Points in History". I have a few questions to ask you, where I think you could be of most help to me.
1. I would like to know in your opinion how the Battle of Plassey was a turning point in the history of India.
2. How did it effect Britain?
3. What was the impact of this British victory on British Imperialism in Asia?
I would be grateful if you could reply to me at your earliest as I need to submit my entry on the 12th of May.
Thanking you in Anticipation,
Aditya Mathur
_____________________________________________________________________________
Date: Wed, 8 May 2013 16:50:39 +0100
Subject: Re: Hello from Aditya Mathur
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Sure, if you'd like to email some questions – no problem
Stephen Luscombe
[email protected]
http://www.britishempire.co.uk
http://twitter.com/britishempireok
http://facebook.com/britishempireok
[email protected]
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/britishempirelist/
British Empire Store http://astore.amazon.co.uk/britishempire
_____________________________________________________________________________
From: Aditya Mathur <[email protected]>
Date: Wednesday, 8 May 2013 16:15
To: Stephen Luscombe Owner <[email protected]>
Subject: Hello from Aditya Mathur
Dear Mr Luscombe,
My name is Aditya Mathur and I am a Year 8 student at the British International School, Jakarta, Indonesia.
I am working on developing a website submission for the National History Day competition to be held in Washington, USA next month. The topic of my submission is "Battle of Plassey : a turning point in History".
I am keen to interview you, being an eminent historian on the British Empire, and take your valued contribution to my website submission. The interview can be either on phone or email, based on your convenience.
May I kindly request your reply soon?
Warm Regards,
Aditya Mathur
+62 ********
Date: Wed, 8 May 2013 18:32:21 +0100
Subject: Re: Hello from Aditya Mathur
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Dear Mr. Luscombe,
Thank you so much for a really prompt reply.
I am doing a National History Day Project on the Battle of Plassey, the topic this year was "Turning Points in History". I have a few questions to ask you, where I think you could be of most help to me.
1. I would like to know in your opinion how the Battle of Plassey was a turning point in the history of India.
The Battle of Plassey was the culmination of the British East India Company competing with the French East India for European domination of trade and power in the Indian sub-continent. Britain's victory at the battle helped ensure that they, rather than the French, would become the prime European power there. It also signalled that the Mughal Empire was in terminal decline and was finding it too difficult to impose its will and power over potential rivals without the support and aid of foreign powers – like Britain. The Mughals were the last of the great local empires who could have potentially resisted European domination. Instead, they allowed the British to become an active participant in the power politics of the region.
2. How did it effect Britain?
At the time, people did not realise how important the victory was. They did not realise that it had opened the doors for the British East India Company to change from a trading company – bringing spices and exotic goods to Europe from Asia – to a governing body – raising taxes. Using European technology like muskets, modern artillery and sailing ships they were able to gain control over a greater and greater area of India. The more land they had, the more they could raise from taxes. In hindsight, India would grow to become the most important of Britain's colonies. Just a few decades later, Britain would lose the 13 colonies, and yet India would end up replacing in economic and strategic importance these American colonies.
3. What was the impact of this British victory on British Imperialism in Asia?
As the British East India Company became more richer and more powerful, it was able to trade and interact on a wider regional basis. It looked for new markets and goods to sell and buy goods from. The most important of these would be China. Britain set up a base in Singapore to help it control the trade between these enormously important markets of China and India. There was also the issue of security. By having such a rich and powerful colony, Britain wanted to protect it, meaning that it acquired buffer colonies to attempt to protect India – so Burma, Nepal, Tibet the Punjab, Aden, Afghanistan, the Suez Canal (when it was built) all came into the British orbit at times in an attempt to control the access to India.
I would be grateful if you could reply to me at your earliest as I need to submit my entry on the 12th of May.
Thanking you in Anticipation,
Aditya Mathur
_____________________________________________________________________________________
From: Aditya Mathur <[email protected]>
Date: Wednesday, 8 May 2013 17:20
To: Stephen Luscombe Owner <[email protected]>
Subject: RE: Hello from Aditya Mathur
Dear Mr. Luscombe,
Thank you so much for a really prompt reply.
I am doing a National History Day Project on the Battle of Plassey, the topic this year was "Turning Points in History". I have a few questions to ask you, where I think you could be of most help to me.
1. I would like to know in your opinion how the Battle of Plassey was a turning point in the history of India.
2. How did it effect Britain?
3. What was the impact of this British victory on British Imperialism in Asia?
I would be grateful if you could reply to me at your earliest as I need to submit my entry on the 12th of May.
Thanking you in Anticipation,
Aditya Mathur
_____________________________________________________________________________
Date: Wed, 8 May 2013 16:50:39 +0100
Subject: Re: Hello from Aditya Mathur
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Sure, if you'd like to email some questions – no problem
Stephen Luscombe
[email protected]
http://www.britishempire.co.uk
http://twitter.com/britishempireok
http://facebook.com/britishempireok
[email protected]
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/britishempirelist/
British Empire Store http://astore.amazon.co.uk/britishempire
_____________________________________________________________________________
From: Aditya Mathur <[email protected]>
Date: Wednesday, 8 May 2013 16:15
To: Stephen Luscombe Owner <[email protected]>
Subject: Hello from Aditya Mathur
Dear Mr Luscombe,
My name is Aditya Mathur and I am a Year 8 student at the British International School, Jakarta, Indonesia.
I am working on developing a website submission for the National History Day competition to be held in Washington, USA next month. The topic of my submission is "Battle of Plassey : a turning point in History".
I am keen to interview you, being an eminent historian on the British Empire, and take your valued contribution to my website submission. The interview can be either on phone or email, based on your convenience.
May I kindly request your reply soon?
Warm Regards,
Aditya Mathur
+62 ********
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