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The handle http://hdl.handle.net/1887/71028 holds various files of this Leiden University dissertation.
Author: Wibulsilp, P.
Title: Nawabi Karnatak: Muhammad Ali Khan in the Making of a Mughal Successor State in Pre-colonial South India, 1749-1795
Nawabi Karnatak
Nawabi Karnatak
Muhammad Ali Khan in the Making of a Mughal Successor State in Pre-colonial South India, 1749-1795
PROEFSCHRIFT ter verkrijging van
de graad van Doctor aan de Universiteit Leiden, op gezag van Rector Magnificus prof. mr. C.J.J.M. Stolker,
volgens besluit van het College voor Promoties te verdedigen op dinsdag 9 april 2019
klokke 13.45 uur
door
Pimmanus Wibulsilp
Promotor:
Prof. dr. J.J.L. Gommans (Universiteit Leiden)
Promotiecommissie:
Prof. dr. M.L.M. van Berkel (Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen) Prof. dr. J.F.J. Duindam (Universiteit Leiden)
Contents
Acknowledgement ix
List of illustrations xi
List of abbreviations xii
Maps xiii
Introduction: The Nawab’s Perspective 1
Part I: Aurangzeb’s Legacy: War and Migration 35
Chapter 1: Military Service, Migration, and Settlement 37
1.1 Mughal Expansion into South India 37
1.2 Migration and “Zamindarization” 41
1.3 The Emergence of the Southern Mughal Successor States: 47 The Deccan and Karnatak
Chapter 2: The Walajahs 53
2.1 The Walajahs and the Mughals 53
2.2 Walajahi Karnatak 55
2.3 The Nawayat-Walajah Wars 56
2.4 Muhammad Ali Khan: Sole Ruler of Karnatak 63
2.5 Relations with the Mughal Emperors 68
Part II: The Making of the Karnatak State 77
Chapter 3: Nawabi Dynasty 87
3.1 Nasab 87
3.2 Succession 93
3.3 Affiliations 112
Chapter 4: Nawabi Sword 117
4.1 The South Asian Military Labor Market 117
4.2 Nawabi Self-Fashioning 122
4.3 People of the Sword 125
Chapter 5: Nawabi Pen 149
5.1 Early Modern South Asian Courts 149
5.2 Nawabi Self-Fashioning 153
5.3 People of the Pen 155
Chapter 6: Nawabi Religion 175
6.1 The Role of Religion in Early Modern South Asia 176
6.2 Nawabi Self-Fashioning 183
6.3 Religious Groups 187
Conclusion to Part II 203
Part III: Embracing the Europeans 211
Chapter 7: Economic Encounters 217
7.1 Rulers and Trade 217
7.2 The Nawab as Merchant: Textiles, Rice, and Pearls 223
7.3 The Nawab as a Revenue Farmer 239
7.4 The Nawab as Real-Estate Investor 250
Chapter 8: Cultural Encounters 257
8.1 European Material Culture at the Nawab’s Court 257
8.2 Triangle: Nawab, Company, and King 263
8.3 Tripatite Ritual Battles 269
Chapter 9: Military Encounters 297
9.1 Clashes of Interests in the Joint Force 297
9.2 Nawabi Efforts at Military Reform 303
9.3 The Irreversible Context 312
Conclusion to Part III 331
ix
Acknowledgement
This thesis has received great support from a number of institutions, teachers, scholars, and friends. First and foremost, I am sincerely grateful to the Anandamahidol Foundation, Thailand for providing the scholarship that made this dissertation possible. The guidelines do not permit me to thank my master and PhD supervisor, Jos Gommans, for his patient guidance, numerous advice, and inspiration throughout a decade-long process of training a Thai student to become a historian of South Asia. Sincere appreciations also go to the members of the promotion committee: Maaike van Berkel, Jeroen Duindam, David Henley Anjana Singh, and Carolien Stolte, for their insightful comments. I am thankful to my teachers at Chulalongkorn University, especially Dhiravat na Pombejara and Bhawan Ruangsilp, for their assistance and moral encouragement.
My archival research was mainly done at the British Library in London, the Dutch National Archives in The Hague, the Tamilnadu Archives in Chennai, and the Leiden University Library. I wish to express my appreciation to all the staff members of these institutions for their help. Also, I would like to thank to Bernard D. Sami and L. Shelvanathan of Loyola College, Chennai for their friendship and enormous assistance during my first trip to “Madras.” In order to benefit from these archives, I am also indebted to my Dutch and Persian language teachers René Wezel, Hugo’s Jacob, Ton Harmsen, and Gabriëlle van den Berg.
Words will not be enough to express my gratitude for the Encompass Programme which initially brought me to the Netherlands and gave me a chance to participate in the lively Tanap-Encompass-Cosmopolis community. This wonderful, international family has provided me constant academic advice, discussion, and invaluable friendship. Special thanks go to Leonard Blussé, Alicia Schrikker, Charles Jeurgens, Marijke van Wissen, and Monique Erkelens.
x
Muhammad Gibran, Yedda Palemeq, Nakao Pacidal, Yasrul Huda, Widaratih Kamiso, Lennart Bes, Jinna Smit, Tilla Visser, Lalin Kovudhikulrungsri, Saroj Rujisanskul, Onanong Nuchuchua, Chalermwut Sriporm, Tanat Preeyanont, Sujeeporn Tuntipong, Bee Wiangthong, Narongsak Kidsom, Thep Boontanondha, Kwan Suriyavuth, and Teerapa Pirohakul.
Finally, it would have been impossible for me to finish my PhD without limitless patience, understanding, and support from my family. Thank you very much mom, dad, Salee, Kun-Ya, Pa-Noi, Pooh, EG, Ruya, Ple, Pop, Tukta, Ya-Da, Pa-Tan, and Keaw.
xi
Lists of Illustrations
Page 57 Diagram showing the two camps of the trans-regional alliances during the Nawayat-Walajah wars
Page 93 Diagram displaying Nawab Muhammad Ali Khan and his other four male siblings from three different mothers
Page 101 Table showing the values of jagirs the Nawab granted to his family members according to his estimation in 1760
Page 115 Diagram displaying the marital links between the children of Nawab Muhammad Ali Khan and the children of his full brother, Abd al-Wahhab Khan, and of his full-sister, Choti Begam
Page 241 Table showing part of the expected land revenues of the Madras Presidency from November 1778 to November 1779
Page 258 A painting of the Chepauk Palace, printed on a postcard (1907)
Page 262 Portraits of (1) Nawab Muhammad Ali Khan Walajah of Karnatak (r.1749-1795)
xii
List of Abbreviations
BL British Library, London
CIO (French) Compagnie des Indes Orientales
CPC Calendar of Persian Correspondence: Being Letters, Referring mainly to Affairs in Bengal, which Passed between some of the Company’s Servants and Indian Rulers and Notables, 1759-1795
DGP Diary of George Paterson
DM Despatches to Madras
EIC (British) East India Company
HOME Home Miscellaneous Series of Indian Records IOR India Office Records and Private Papers
JB Letter Book of James Buchanan
MMSC Madras Military and Secret Consultations
MP Madras Proceedings
MPP Madras Public Proceedings
NA (Dutch) National Archives, The Hague
TA Tamilnadu Archives, Chennai
xiii
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