190. Rags to Riches: The Scots in India

Empire

Jack Davenport

History

4.6 • 4.1K Ratings

🗓️ 30 September 2024

⏱️ 51 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In the wake of Culloden, much of Scotland was on its knees. Crippled by defeat and the subsequent backlash of the British government, along with famine and poverty, they were in dire need of new horizons. The nascent British Empire would provide it. The Scottish Highlanders had developed a fearsome reputation during their struggles against the English, and would prove just as indomitable fighting for Britain in India. Yet, in more ways than militarily, India was to become a treasure trove of opportunity, enrichment and conquest for the Scots. From their domination of the East India Trading Company, to some of the men credited with cementing imperial rule in India, and the Highlander Regiments who took on the ferocious Tipu Sultan in the South, Scots involvement in all spheres of the British Empire in India was momentous. It also made them very rich… how controversial, then, is Scotland’s Indian involvement? In today’s episode, William and Anita are joined by historian Andrew MacKillop to discuss the colourful history of Scots and India. To fill out the survey: survey.empirepoduk.com To buy William's book: https://coles-books.co.uk/the-golden-road-by-william-dalrymple-signed-edition Twitter: @Empirepoduk Email: [email protected] Goalhangerpodcasts.com Assistant Producer: Tabby Syrett Producer: Callum Hill Exec Producer: Neil Fearn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:15.1	W. Empire pod UK.com. This episode is brought to you by Shopify.
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0:58.4	Sign up for a one-pound per month trial period at shopify.co. UK slash empire all lowercase that
1:06.6	Shopify dot c.o dot UK slash empire. Empire. No man of any other nation can serve and survive in an Indian province where the chief is a Scott and there is a'm I'm well. I'm William Drumpel
1:36.0	and well the way he said his name you can guess
1:39.0	we're still in our Scottish series
1:41.0	he goes all blue wowed on us doesn't he? Look I'm going to start with a little
1:45.2	story settle down at the back. This is the story. Are we sitting comfortably? Okay, we'll begin. This is the story of a young Lanky Scotsman who leaves his shores to go to India.
1:57.2	A young man, full of hope, full of wonder, full of questions, he arrives in this foreign place and immediately misses home but sees
2:07.0	bits of home in India and decides to make a list, a list that will be comforting for a while.
2:14.0	Is you in it?
	...

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