Dr Thaseem Shakur Interview Transcript
___________________________________________________
Audio Interview Transcript
Student : Hello, Dr Shakur?
Dr Shakur : Yes, who is this?
Student : I am Aditya Mathur. I had contacted you earlier via E-Mail regarding my National History Day Project on the Battle of Plassey, I had also sent you some questions that I would wish to ask you.
Dr Shakur : Yes, go ahead. I have read your questions.
Student : My first question is, what were the prior conditions or reasons for the Battle of Plassey?
Dr Shakur : Well, as you know India was one of the most resource-rich countries in the world and within that was Bengal, the key economic centre. The East India company saw the opportunity and trying to fight off the French merchants, they decided the best way would be to wrest control of Bengal.
Student : Thank you. My second question is, what in your opinion were the political and military implications of the Battle of Plassey?
Dr Shakur : Hmmm, Yes, That’s an interesting question. As the resources came under the control of the East India company, they used the wealth to build up militarily. Over time, the British would have to engage wars within many parts of India as the situation got more hostile. As an example, Tipu Sultan was fending off the British in down South and they needed to build themselves up to fight the battle. With South East Asian countries like Burma and Singapore trade opportunities opened up and to capture these completely military accumulation began by the British.
Student : Ok. Lastly, would you say the British Empire had a positive or negative influence on India?
Dr Shakur : Haha, that's a good one. One argument is that the british Empire improved the literacy or the education system of India and also put in place a generally good system of operation. however, at the same time, British also took away wealth from India by making India a captive market for finished products from Britain, despite the fact that the raw materials were originally from India. If the British were not in India, probably we could have been more like China, so I don’t think it helped very much.
Do think for yourself, you live in Indonesia ; Do you think that Indonesia could have prospered more without the Dutch colonialism?
Student : Yes sir, absolutely. I understand. Well, thank you very much indeed for all the information that you have shared with me and thank you for you time as well.
Dr Shakur : Absolutely no problem. I was more than glad to help, although I do hope that I came in useful for your project.
Student : Sir, it was very nice of you to talk to me. And I will definitely include excerpts of your interview in my website.
Dr Shakur : Ok. Bye.
Student : Thank you once again Dr Shakur. Bye.
_____________________________________________________________________________
From: Aditya Mathur ([email protected])
Sent:12 May 2013 23:09PM
To: Thaseem Shakur ([email protected])
Ok. Thank you very much. I shall call you in 10 minutes, here are the questions that I shall be asking you for my interviewing purposes.
1. What in your opinion, were the reasons and prior conditions that led to the Battle of Plassey?
2. What was the political and military impact of the Battle on India and Asia?
3. Would you say the British Empire had a positive or negative influence on India?
Thanking you,
Aditya Mathur
_____________________________________________________________________________
To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Submission Date
Date: Sun, 12 May 2013 15:55:32 +0100
I am at home now and u may call me at my home 0797*******
Sent from my HTC
_____________________________________________________________________________
From: Aditya Mathur ([email protected])
Sent: 12 May 2013 17: 39PM
To:[email protected] ([email protected])
Dear Dr Shakur,
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 ********
Audio Interview Transcript
Student : Hello, Dr Shakur?
Dr Shakur : Yes, who is this?
Student : I am Aditya Mathur. I had contacted you earlier via E-Mail regarding my National History Day Project on the Battle of Plassey, I had also sent you some questions that I would wish to ask you.
Dr Shakur : Yes, go ahead. I have read your questions.
Student : My first question is, what were the prior conditions or reasons for the Battle of Plassey?
Dr Shakur : Well, as you know India was one of the most resource-rich countries in the world and within that was Bengal, the key economic centre. The East India company saw the opportunity and trying to fight off the French merchants, they decided the best way would be to wrest control of Bengal.
Student : Thank you. My second question is, what in your opinion were the political and military implications of the Battle of Plassey?
Dr Shakur : Hmmm, Yes, That’s an interesting question. As the resources came under the control of the East India company, they used the wealth to build up militarily. Over time, the British would have to engage wars within many parts of India as the situation got more hostile. As an example, Tipu Sultan was fending off the British in down South and they needed to build themselves up to fight the battle. With South East Asian countries like Burma and Singapore trade opportunities opened up and to capture these completely military accumulation began by the British.
Student : Ok. Lastly, would you say the British Empire had a positive or negative influence on India?
Dr Shakur : Haha, that's a good one. One argument is that the british Empire improved the literacy or the education system of India and also put in place a generally good system of operation. however, at the same time, British also took away wealth from India by making India a captive market for finished products from Britain, despite the fact that the raw materials were originally from India. If the British were not in India, probably we could have been more like China, so I don’t think it helped very much.
Do think for yourself, you live in Indonesia ; Do you think that Indonesia could have prospered more without the Dutch colonialism?
Student : Yes sir, absolutely. I understand. Well, thank you very much indeed for all the information that you have shared with me and thank you for you time as well.
Dr Shakur : Absolutely no problem. I was more than glad to help, although I do hope that I came in useful for your project.
Student : Sir, it was very nice of you to talk to me. And I will definitely include excerpts of your interview in my website.
Dr Shakur : Ok. Bye.
Student : Thank you once again Dr Shakur. Bye.
_____________________________________________________________________________
From: Aditya Mathur ([email protected])
Sent:12 May 2013 23:09PM
To: Thaseem Shakur ([email protected])
Ok. Thank you very much. I shall call you in 10 minutes, here are the questions that I shall be asking you for my interviewing purposes.
1. What in your opinion, were the reasons and prior conditions that led to the Battle of Plassey?
2. What was the political and military impact of the Battle on India and Asia?
3. Would you say the British Empire had a positive or negative influence on India?
Thanking you,
Aditya Mathur
_____________________________________________________________________________
To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Submission Date
Date: Sun, 12 May 2013 15:55:32 +0100
I am at home now and u may call me at my home 0797*******
Sent from my HTC
_____________________________________________________________________________
From: Aditya Mathur ([email protected])
Sent: 12 May 2013 17: 39PM
To:[email protected] ([email protected])
Dear Dr Shakur,
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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