#for $2 can you tell me about the british opium trade and opium wars

[spider-xan]

On a different note, as I overheard a relevant conversation yesterday - me, the child of immigrants from Hong Kong, every time I have to overhear a Hong Konger or HK descendent talk about how much they love and admire the British Empire bc it was a benevolent 'civilizing' force that brought Western enlightenment to Hong Kong, unlike the dirty and barbaric Chinese mainlanders with their evil Oriental ways: 😒😒😒

[bison-appreciation-club]

Hello!! Since you asked, would you tell me about the British obsession with tea? Whenever you may have time, of course. I love tea and would also love to know more about it :))

sorry this took me soooo long to reply to. the honest answer is that i kinda forgot what i was referring to haha.

so, i can think of two things that past me may have been referring to. 1) the east india company, a british trading company that traded in, amongst other things, tea. it also caused FAR more trouble than it was worth (the opium wars, for example)

or 2) the american revolution. one of the reasons the american colonies wanted to leave the british empire was because of the high taxes britain placed on tea.

so there you have it! two cases in which the british went to war over their leaves in water.

[thevividgreenmoss]

The process of forcibly integrating colonized peoples into the capitalist labour system caused widespread dislocation (a history I cover in The Divide).  Remember, this is the period of the Belgian labour system in the Congo, which so upended local economies that 10 million people died – half the population.  This is the period of the Natives Land Act in South Africa, which dispossessed the country’s black population of 90% of the country.   This is the period of the famines in India, where 30 million died needlessly as a result of policies the British imposed on Indian agriculture.  This is the period of the Opium Wars in China and the unequal treaties that immiserated the population.  And don’t forget: all of this was conducted in the name of the “free market”.

All of this violence, and much more, gets elided in your narrative and repackaged as a happy story of progress.  And you say I’m the one possessed of romantic fairy tales.

The Maddison database on which you rely might tell us what the dispossessed gained in income (eventually), but it does not tell us whether those gains offset their loss of lands, commons, supportive communities, stable local economies.  And it tells us nothing about what global South economies might be like today had they been free to industrialize on their own terms (take the case of India, for instance).  

Let me be clear: this is not a critique of industrialization as such.  It is a critique of how industrialization was carried out during the period in question.  If people had willingly opted into the capitalist labour system, while retaining rights to their commons and while gaining a fair share of the yields they produced, we would have a very different story on our hands.  So let’s celebrate what industrialization has achieved – absolutely – but place it in proper context: colonization, violence, dispossession and all.  All we gain from ignoring this history is ignorance.

Now, to the present period.

You say that the “massive fall of global extreme poverty” is simply a neutral fact of the data.  But here again the data on this is more complex than you have ever acknowledged (I collaborated with Charles Kenny to review the basics here).  

The narrative that you and Gates peddle relies on a poverty line of $1.90 per day.  You are aware, I’m sure, that this line is not a neutral phenomenon, handed down by the gods or given in nature.  It was invented by people, is used for particular ends, and is hotly contested both inside and outside of academia.  Most scholars regard $1.90 as far too low to be meaningful, for reasons I have outlined in my work many times (see here and here).  See Reddy and Lahoti’s withering critique of the $1.90 methodology here.

Here are a few points to keep in mind.  Using the $1.90 line shows that only 700 million people live in poverty.  But note that the UN’s FAO says that 815 million people do not have enough calories to sustain even “minimal” human activity.  1.5 billion are food insecure, and do not have enough calories to sustain “normal” human activity.  And 2.1 billion suffer from malnutrition.  How can there be fewer poor people than hungry and malnourished people?  If $1.90 is inadequate to achieve basic nutrition and sustain normal human activity, then it’s too low – period.  It’s time for you and Gates to stop using it.  Lifting people above this line doesn’t mean lifting them out of poverty, “extreme” or otherwise.

Remember: $1.90 is the equivalent of what that amount of money could buy in the US in 2011.  The economist David Woodward once calculated that to live at this level (in an earlier base year) would be like 35 people trying to survive in Britain “on a single minimum wage, with no benefits of any kind, no gifts, borrowing, scavenging, begging or savings to draw on (since these are all included as ‘income’ in poverty calculations).”  That goes beyond any definition of “extreme”.  It is patently absurd.  It is an insult to humanity.

...But what’s really at stake here for you, as your letter reveals, is the free-market narrative that you have constructed.  Your argument is that neoliberal capitalism is responsible for driving the most substantial gains against poverty.  This claim is intellectually dishonest, and unsupported by facts.  Here’s why:The vast majority of gains against poverty have happened in one region: East Asia.  As it happens, the economic success of China and the East Asian tigers – as scholars like Ha-Joon Chang and Robert Wade have long pointed out – is due not to the neoliberal markets that you espouse but rather state-led industrial policy, protectionism and regulation (the same measures that Western nations used to such great effect during their own period of industrial consolidation).  They liberalized, to be sure – but they did so gradually and on their own terms.  Not so for the rest of the global South.  Indeed, these policy options were systematically denied to them, and destroyed where they already existed.  From 1980 to 2000, the IMF and World Bank imposed brutal structural adjustment programs that did exactly the opposite: slashing tariffs, subsidies, social spending and capital controls while reversing land reforms and privatizing public assets – all in the face of massive public resistance.  During this period, the number of people in poverty outside China increased by 1.3 billion.  In fact, even the proportion of people living in poverty (to use your preferred method) increased, from 62% to 68%.  (For detailed economic data and references to the relevant literature, see Chapter 5 of The Divide). 

In other words, the imposition of neoliberal capitalism from 1980 to 2000 made the poverty rate worse, not better.  

Since 2000, the most impressive gains against poverty (outside of East Asia) have come from Latin America, according to the World Bank, coinciding with a series of left-wing or social democratic governments that came to power across the continent.  Whatever one might say about these governments (I have my own critiques), this doesn’t sit very well with your neoliberal narrative.

But there is something else that needs to be said here.  You and Gates like to invoke the poverty numbers to make claims about the legitimacy of the existing global economic system.  You say the system is working for the poor, so people should stop complaining about it.  

When it comes to assessing such a claim, it’s really neither absolute numbers nor proportions that matter.  What matters, rather, is the extent of global poverty vis-à-vis our capacity to end it.  As I have pointed out before, our capacity to end poverty (e.g., the cost of ending poverty as a proportion of the income of the non-poor) has increased many times faster than the proportional poverty rate has decreased (to use your preferred measure again).  By this metric we are doing worse than ever before.  Indeed, our civilization is regressing.  Why?  Because the vast majority of the yields of our global economy are being captured by the world’s rich.

As I pointed out in the Guardian piece, only 5% of new income from global growth goes to the poorest 60% of humanity – people living on less than $7.40/day.  You have neither acknowledged this as a problem nor attempted to defend it.  Instead you just ignore it, I suppose because it undermines your claims about how well the economy is working for poor people.

Here’s how well it’s working: on our existing trajectory, according to research published in the World Economic Review, it will take more than 100 years to end poverty at $1.90/day, and over 200 years to end it at $7.4/day.  Let that sink in.  And to get there with the existing system – in other words, without a fairer distribution of income – we will have to grow the global economy to 175 times its present size.  Even if such an outlandish feat were possible, it would drive climate change and ecological breakdown to the point of undermining any gains against poverty.

It doesn’t have to be this way, of course.  We can end poverty right now simply by making the rules of our global economy fairer for the world’s majority (I describe how we can do this in The Divide, looking at everything from wages to debt to trade).  But that is an approach that you and Gates seem desperate to avoid, in favour of a blustering defense of the status quo.  

[traveljaunts]

Rajasthan is the land of kings & queens- their kingdoms, palaces & forts and stories. When I visited Jodhpur and Jaisalmer, what intrigued me was that these places were not just about the grandeur, the colorful lifestyle and the desert but also about stories that took birth here. Stories of various kinds – war, love, sacrifices, stories between the rulers and the ruled, and many other tales of antiquity. There is not much fun in just looking at these places without knowing what had happened within the walls of these cities.

We heard stories and many stories during our visit to Jodhpur, a Bishnoi village, Jaisalmer, and Kuldhara. My son didn’t need any story book during the trip, we heard the tales directly from the locals. Hence, I thought of telling the little-known stories of Jodhpur Jaisalmer and nearby places this time rather than spell out which places to see and what things to do.

Mehrangarh Fort’s story

Mehrangarh Fort from inside

Movies inspire reality or reality inspires movies? This story for sure is no less than a movie. When Rao Jodha, the founder of Jodhpur wanted to establish himself after years of traveling in the desert, he needed to build a fort in a safe place as the old Mandore fort was no longer considered secure. The ideal location chosen for the Fort was on a hill in Jodhpur, then occupied by a hermit. Now, this meant displacing the hermit. The displacement made the hermit so angry that he cursed the Fort as well as the royal family- two curses at once!

Curse no 1 – He said that the region will always suffer the scarcity of water.

Curse no 2. -The King will never live to see his grandson.

Super angry man of India must have been an avatar of Sage Durvasa. We also don’t know how he was displaced? Anyway, to find a solution to the first curse, Rao Jodha built a house and a temple within the fort for the hermit to appease him (very near to hermit’s place of meditation). But this wasn’t all, the second step he took was an extreme. To make the site prove propitious, Rao Jodha decided on a human sacrifice. Now who would come forward? Not anyone from the royal family of course but a common man named Raja Ram Meghwal (Rajia) came forward to volunteer on a condition that his family be given acres of lands and treated as part of Royals after his death.

The agreement done and the tragic tale of extreme sacrifice ended in Rajia being buried alive in the foundation. When you visit the treasury room of this fort you would be surprised to know that it stands on top of his dead body. And Raja Bagh is the land near the fort where Raja Ram Meghwal’s descendants stay till date.

The second curse – a five generation old jinx became history recently after the present King, Maharaj Gaj Singh finally witnessed the birth of his grandson when his son Prince Shivraj and princess Gayatri Kumari of Jodhpur delivered their boy. For past 5 generations from Maharaja Rao Jaswant Singh to Maharaja Hanwant Singh, no one ever lived to witness the birth of their grandson. In fact, this also is close to a miracle as Prince Shivraj had a near fatal accident while playing Polo a few years back and was in the coma for months. It took ~ 2.5 yrs for him to walk again.

View from the top of Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur

Man looking out at Mehrangarh Fort

Sheesh Mahal in Mehrangarh Fort , Jodhpur

The stories don’t end here. Of the many gates leading in and out of the Fort, you will see a wall with handprints of fifteen royal women who had burnt themselves alive on the funeral pyres of their dead husbands. Its a place of worship now. So much so in the name of rituals!

Umaid Bhavan Palace where the Royal family stays at present and part of it is a hotel

Milky-white marble memorial to Maharaja Jaswant Singh II known as Jaswant Thada

Bishnoi Village’s  Story

Have you heard of Chipko movement or even Salman Khan’s black buck killing case ? If not, then let me introduce to you a Bishnoi village (also called Khejarli village, 26 kms from Jodhpur) where all these incidents took place.

Bishnoi is a religious offshoot of Hinduism which was founded after wars between Hindu and Muslims in Thar desert. This religion is based on 29 principals which detests killing animals and felling trees. Hence Bishnois are strong lovers of wildlife and trees, to the extent that they can kill themselves for the cause. When we went for a village safari, we saw deers and antelopes (such as blue bulls, black bucks, chinkaras and chowsinghas) grazing peacefully in the fields and backyards of their villages.

Specifically black buck (supposedly the incarnation of the founder of the sect, Guru Jambheshwar) and the Khejri tree (Prosopis Cineraria) remain extremely sacred for all Bishnois.

Unfortunately, in this story of peace and love, entered Maharaja Abhay Singh in 1730 AD, ruler of Jodhpur. For the construction of his new palace, he wanted to burn lime and needed wood. Khejarli was the only place with abundant greenery and lot of Khejri trees. He ordered wood by felling the trees and sent his royal party to Khejarli.

To stop the royal party, a Bishnoi lady named Amrita Devi protested against the act but to no avail. She said it was an act of insult to her religious faith and she would rather give away her life to save the green trees. The axes, which were brought to cut the trees, severed her head. Undaunted by the incident, her three daughters also came forward and met the same fate. The news spread like wildfire and others came forward too. When it stopped, 363 people, young and old, men and women, sacrificed themselves while hugging the trees to stop the men sent by Maharaja.

By the time Maharaja got to know, it was too late. He apologized and also issued a royal decree prohibiting cutting trees or killing of animals in Bishnoi village and in nearby areas forever. This incident was a forebearer of the 20th-century Chipko movement.

Now, this remote village is a cultural hub and is frequented by many celebrities thanks to the promotional efforts by the Maharajas to showcase the rich Marwari & tribal. Here are a few glimpses of our experience with the locals.

Me and my son on the Jeep Safari to Bishnoi Village

Meeting Bishnoi family. Offering Opium to the guests is part of their tradition and I did taste

Eating fresh directly from the farms at Bishnoi

Pottery making in Bishnoi village with the awarded artist

Learning to weave with the artist

The Story of Golden Fort of Jaisalmer

Jaisalmer is one of my favorite places in India. Authentic and unique! Jaipur is pink, Jodhpur is blue and Jaisalmer is Golden.

Bada Bagh near Jaisalmer- The royal Cenotaphs

  Colorful Rajasthani puppets

The famous Kalbelia dance of Rajasthan during desert camping

Thar desert Safari – Me and my son

The Jaisalmer fort that stands amidst the unending golden sand of Thar desert is known as Sonar Qila or Golden fort. It is one of the largest and the only inhabited fort in the world which is a UNESCO heritage site now. It is the second oldest fort in Rajasthan; honeycombed with narrow winding lanes, houses and temples in between along with a number of handicraft shops, guest houses and restaurants, the complex is so expansive that almost 1/4th of the town’s population is located in this fort itself.

It was built in 1156 AD by the ruler Rawal Jaisal. Made of yellow sandstone, it changes its color from lion yellow during the day to honey-gold at sunset. For years, this fortress city served as a refuge and way-station for caravans and travelers along the route. With British, it lost its importance as a trading town as other trade routes opened.

Standing near the Golden Fort of Jaisalmer

This fort’s history is equally spellbinding with many battles and folk legends bursting out from within the walls. There was a king, a sage and a prophecy to start with.

When Rawal Jaisal, the founder was checking out Trikuta, the present location for a more secure place for his new capital, he met a sage called Eesul who was staying there. Eesul told the Yaduvanshi Rawal Jaisal about Krishna’s prophecy according to which a descendant of Yaduvanshi clan would one day establish a kingdom on Trikuta. However, he also predicted that the kingdom would be attacked two and a half times (two Jauhars and a Sako) if established there.

Despite this, Rawal Jaisal moved his capital on this rock in the golden desert.The first Jauhar took place in 1294 during the reign of Alaudin Khilji. For 8 years the Bhatis (the locals) defended the fort but for the lack of ammunition and food their defeat seemed certain.The only option left was to perform the rite of Jauhar. 24,000 women (young & old) committed suicide so as to save themselves from the hands of the enemies. Men later opened the doors of the fort to advance to their death.

The second time, it happened in late 14th century when Firoz Shah Tughlaq besieged it. This led to the suicide of 16,000 women and the death of the ruler, his son as well as 1700 warriors.

The last was in 16th century, a deception by an Afghan leader Amir Ali who took permission to let his wives’ visit queens of Jaisalmer but sent full armed warriors in disguise instead. Taken by the surprise, when Rawal realized that the defeat was certain, he slaughtered his womenfolk with his own hands as there was insufficient time to arrange a funeral pyre. Tragically immediately after the deed was done, the reinforcements arrived. Amir Ali was defeated and the Fort was taken under control.

By the way, the ancient capital of the Bhati dynasty before it shifted to Jaisalmer , was in Lodrawa, a village 15 kms from Jaisalmer. You can see stunning Jain temples there.

Lodhurva Jain temple near Jaisalmer

Story of Havelis of Jaisalmer

There are 3 important Havelis (big houses) in Jaisalmer each with its own unique history.

Patwon Ki Haveli

This fellow – Guman Chand Patwa- was the richest merchant of Jaisalmer, so rich that he could afford to even lend money to Kings. This Haveli was built for him and his five sons.

Patwon Ki Haveli by Travel Jaunts

Nathmal Ki Haveli

This was the Haveli of Diwan Mohata Nathmal, then Prime Minister of Jaisalmer. Two Muslim architect brothers Haathi and Lulu worked on this Haveli, constructing one-half each of the building from the same plan in 1885. The two halves turned out to be absolutely different to each other and at the end had to be  joined together by a facade.

Salim Singh Ki Haveli

Salim Singh’s father was brutally murdered in the palace while working as the prime minister of Jaisalmer when Salim was just 12 years old. Under such circumstances, Salim grew up with hatred and revenge. When he himself became the prime minister in 1800s, he became ruthless. His actions not only brought misery to the kingdom but also made many royal traders of Jaisalmer to move towards adjoining Pakistan. As a result, Salim Singh was stabbed by one of the nobles. That attack didn’t kill him though however his own wife poisoned him to death to bring an end to his story. This man infact had seven wives and two concubines.  Which one killed him, am not sure!

Story of Kuldhara

Kuldhara is a haunted, eerie, abondoned village  26 kms from Jaisalmer. It once was a prosperous village inhabited by Paliwal Brahmins. As per the legend,the local ruler (Samant) was harassing these Paliwals by levying huge taxes. To add to the ordeal, the ruler fell for a girl of the community, possibly the daughter of the village chief. He left no choice with the villagers but to accept what he wanted. Out of desperation, the entire community vanished over-night. No one knows where they went and what happened to them. Today this place is uninhabited due to many rumors that float around including the mysterious deaths and presence of Ghosts in the area.

Kuldhara near Jaisalmer by Travel Jaunts

For more read here

These are just a few stories that I have heard. If you have heard more, write back. Would love to hear and publish them here.

Jodhpur Jaisalmer – What no one tells you about? Rajasthan is the land of kings & queens- their kingdoms, palaces & forts and stories. When I visited Jodhpur and Jaisalmer, what intrigued me was that these places were not just about the grandeur, the colorful lifestyle and the desert but also about stories that took birth here.