Chapter 331
1871
Lands east of Bengal
In retrospect, given the swift rise of Islam in Eastern Bengal under the Mughal Empire, it was surprising that the animist peoples to the mountains were not converted centuries before. However, they were largely left alone by the Bengali monarchs and it was....somewhat oddly....Protestant missionaries under the brief British East India Company and later East India Company which had converted the mountain peoples of the lands between Bengal and Burma to Christianity. The Naga and other tribes would surprisingly prove eager recipients of the Protestant faith though there was some friction between the early Methodist and Presbyterian Ministers and the later Lutherans.
Particularly under the Company influence, this encouragement of religion had monetary roots. By providing a "regional" religion owning its existence to the Company, it ensured that that highlands would be beholden to the EIC for protection. By 1871, the remote mountain regions, largely ignored by local powers for centuries, had quietly become profitable tea producers for the Company. The land was perfect for the crop and the Ministers helped keep the local tribes in line without the need for an army like in the Congo.
By separating these people on issues of faith by the neighboring Muslims (Bengal) and Buddhists (Burma), the Company ensured a division which they could exploit.
However, the young Peshwa, while much more sympathetic to religious minorities within his Empire than most of his predecessors, would be something of an expansionist and considered these remote regions the logical route for expansion. After all, expanding into the Muslim territories of the Baluchs and Afghans might be emotionally satisfying given that these peoples had raided, often with Persian help, the Subcontinent for centuries and helped found the Mughal Empire....but there seemed no profit in this, most likely enormous expense and probably would result in problems with the Peshwa's Muslim subjects.
The Peshwa, unlike his father, attempted to treat his subjects with respect regardless of religion. He withdrew religious-based taxes and prohibitions upon Muslims serving in the public sector. New regiments of Muslims, Christians, Sikhs and other minorities were formed and treated with a respect they hadn't received in the years before. Many high-ranking soldiers and bureaucrats of non-Hindu faith were granted honors and prestigious posts. Universities were ordered to open their doors to minorities throughout the nation.
Oddly, this would further centralize the power of the Maratha Empire (often called "India" but officially called the "Maratha Empire") as local Kings would object and give the Peshwa cause to take over their Kingdoms directly. By 1872, nearly half the land of the Maratha Empire was controlled by Peshwa-installed governors, not Kings. The others, seeing the bureaucracy, transport nodes, taxation and army under the Peshwa's control, dared not offend the Peshwa lest their Kingdom's be next. The Peshwa could stand as a defender of liberty....all the while seizing more and more direct power himself.
While the 19th century was a time of technological advancement and political centralization on the subcontinent, the massive resources granted to the Peshwa would allow foreign adventures to take place if he so desired. But an expensive conquest of the Durrani Empire, nearly entirely Muslim, would cause no end to problems while the massive Chinese Empire to the north was blocked off by the mountains...and the fact that the Chinese Army was probably as strong or stronger than the Maratha.
Therefore, the Peshwa naturally looked East, towards Southeast Asia, a mix of about a dozen Kingdoms (and Company) lands.
Exactly what the Peshwa WANTED with these lands was somewhat unclear even to the Peshwa. It seemed likely that any tax revenues would never touch the costs associated with conquering any particular region.
But Empire virtually DEMANDED conquest. That was the true base for the Peshwa's ambitions. And his actions.
Oddly, it would not be the remote and hard to reach Nagas and other Christian tribes which would be the first target of the Marathas but the far easier to reach Burmese.
Lands east of Bengal
In retrospect, given the swift rise of Islam in Eastern Bengal under the Mughal Empire, it was surprising that the animist peoples to the mountains were not converted centuries before. However, they were largely left alone by the Bengali monarchs and it was....somewhat oddly....Protestant missionaries under the brief British East India Company and later East India Company which had converted the mountain peoples of the lands between Bengal and Burma to Christianity. The Naga and other tribes would surprisingly prove eager recipients of the Protestant faith though there was some friction between the early Methodist and Presbyterian Ministers and the later Lutherans.
Particularly under the Company influence, this encouragement of religion had monetary roots. By providing a "regional" religion owning its existence to the Company, it ensured that that highlands would be beholden to the EIC for protection. By 1871, the remote mountain regions, largely ignored by local powers for centuries, had quietly become profitable tea producers for the Company. The land was perfect for the crop and the Ministers helped keep the local tribes in line without the need for an army like in the Congo.
By separating these people on issues of faith by the neighboring Muslims (Bengal) and Buddhists (Burma), the Company ensured a division which they could exploit.
However, the young Peshwa, while much more sympathetic to religious minorities within his Empire than most of his predecessors, would be something of an expansionist and considered these remote regions the logical route for expansion. After all, expanding into the Muslim territories of the Baluchs and Afghans might be emotionally satisfying given that these peoples had raided, often with Persian help, the Subcontinent for centuries and helped found the Mughal Empire....but there seemed no profit in this, most likely enormous expense and probably would result in problems with the Peshwa's Muslim subjects.
The Peshwa, unlike his father, attempted to treat his subjects with respect regardless of religion. He withdrew religious-based taxes and prohibitions upon Muslims serving in the public sector. New regiments of Muslims, Christians, Sikhs and other minorities were formed and treated with a respect they hadn't received in the years before. Many high-ranking soldiers and bureaucrats of non-Hindu faith were granted honors and prestigious posts. Universities were ordered to open their doors to minorities throughout the nation.
Oddly, this would further centralize the power of the Maratha Empire (often called "India" but officially called the "Maratha Empire") as local Kings would object and give the Peshwa cause to take over their Kingdoms directly. By 1872, nearly half the land of the Maratha Empire was controlled by Peshwa-installed governors, not Kings. The others, seeing the bureaucracy, transport nodes, taxation and army under the Peshwa's control, dared not offend the Peshwa lest their Kingdom's be next. The Peshwa could stand as a defender of liberty....all the while seizing more and more direct power himself.
While the 19th century was a time of technological advancement and political centralization on the subcontinent, the massive resources granted to the Peshwa would allow foreign adventures to take place if he so desired. But an expensive conquest of the Durrani Empire, nearly entirely Muslim, would cause no end to problems while the massive Chinese Empire to the north was blocked off by the mountains...and the fact that the Chinese Army was probably as strong or stronger than the Maratha.
Therefore, the Peshwa naturally looked East, towards Southeast Asia, a mix of about a dozen Kingdoms (and Company) lands.
Exactly what the Peshwa WANTED with these lands was somewhat unclear even to the Peshwa. It seemed likely that any tax revenues would never touch the costs associated with conquering any particular region.
But Empire virtually DEMANDED conquest. That was the true base for the Peshwa's ambitions. And his actions.
Oddly, it would not be the remote and hard to reach Nagas and other Christian tribes which would be the first target of the Marathas but the far easier to reach Burmese.
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