East India Company

This episode examines the Company rule in India (1757-1858) - the century when the British East India Company transformed from a trading corporation into a territorial power. It traces how, following the Battle of Plassey, the Company expanded its control through military conquest and political manipulation, waging decisive wars against Mysore and the Marathas. The discussion explores how British governance evolved through landmark reforms such as the Regulating Act of 1773 and the growing authority of the Governors-General. It also looks at the Company's economic and administrative policies, including the Permanent Settlement and Ryotwari systems, and their lasting impact on Indian agriculture and society. Beyond politics and economics, the episode highlights developments in the army, civil service, trade, law, education, and infrastructure - from postal systems and telegraphs to the first railways and canals - revealing how a private company laid the foundations of the British Raj.