In the context of eighteenth century India, what was 'Dastak’ ?
Trade permit
Understanding Dastak in 18th Century India
The question asks about the term 'Dastak' in the historical context of eighteenth-century India. This term is specifically related to the economic and political interactions, particularly involving European trading companies like the British East India Company, during the decline of the Mughal Empire.
What was a Dastak?
'Dastak' was essentially a trade permit or a pass. These permits were granted by Mughal authorities to allow goods to be transported without paying customs duties or tolls. Originally, the British East India Company obtained a royal farman (edict) from the Mughal Emperor Farrukhsiyar in 1717. This farman granted the company the right to trade freely in Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa upon payment of a fixed annual sum, and also allowed them to issue Dastaks for the movement of their goods.
Purpose and Misuse of Dastaks
The intended purpose was to facilitate the legitimate trade of the East India Company by exempting their goods from internal customs barriers. However, the system was widely misused. Company officials often sold Dastaks illegally to Indian merchants, who then used them to evade paying their own duties. This malpractice caused significant revenue loss to the local Nawab of Bengal and created unfair competition for Indian traders who did not have access to these permits or refused to engage in illegal activities.
The misuse of Dastaks became a major point of conflict between the Nawabs of Bengal (like Siraj-ud-Daulah and Mir Qasim) and the British East India Company, contributing significantly to the tensions that led to battles like the Battle of Plassey (1757) and the Battle of Buxar (1764).
Analyzing the Options
Let's look at the given options:
- Signature: A signature is a mark to authenticate a document or identity. While a Dastak would have a signature or seal, 'Dastak' itself refers to the document's purpose, not just the signature on it. So, this is incorrect.
- Land document: A land document pertains to ownership or rights related to land (e.g., a 'Patta'). A Dastak was related to trade and movement of goods, not land ownership. This option is incorrect.
- Trade permit: As discussed, a Dastak was a document granting permission for trade goods to pass duty-free. This directly matches the historical meaning and function of the Dastak in the 18th century. This is the correct meaning.
- Tax on textiles: A tax on textiles would be a form of duty or levy imposed on textile trade. A Dastak was a means to *avoid* paying certain taxes/duties on goods, including textiles, not a tax itself. This is incorrect.
Therefore, the most accurate description of 'Dastak' in the context of eighteenth-century India is a 'Trade permit'.
Key Aspects of Dastak
Here are some key points about the Dastak:
- It originated from a Mughal Imperial Farman (1717).
- Granted to the British East India Company for duty-free trade in Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa.
- Intended for Company goods, but widely misused by Company officials and their associates.
- Led to revenue losses for the Nawab and conflicts with local rulers.
- A significant cause of tension leading to major battles in Bengal.
Revision Table: Dastak Explained
| Term | Meaning in 18th Century India | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Dastak | Trade Permit / Pass | Granted by Mughals to EIC, allowing duty-free movement of goods. Often misused. |
Additional Information: Dastak and British Expansion
The issue surrounding the Dastaks highlights the evolving relationship between the European trading companies, particularly the British East India Company, and the declining Mughal Empire and its regional successors like the Nawabs of Bengal. The misuse of Dastaks wasn't just an economic issue; it demonstrated the growing assertiveness and disregard for local authority by the Company and its servants. This economic exploitation and political arrogance contributed significantly to the circumstances that allowed the British East India Company to transition from a trading entity to a territorial power in India, starting with Bengal.
Understanding the Dastak is crucial for comprehending the early stages of British colonial rule in India, as it exemplifies the mechanisms of economic control and the sources of conflict that paved the way for military confrontation and political subjugation.
Similar Questions
Consider the following statements about science in medieval South India:
1. The Katapayadi system of numerals, which was invented by Vararuchi of Kerala, the author of Chandra Vakyas, was used for calculating the position of Moon on any day of the year.
2. Achyuta Pisharati (1550 1621) wrote Uparagakriyakrama, a text on eclipses.
3. Ravi Varma of Mahodayapuram set up an observatory and is also said to have inaugurated the Kollam era.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?The idea of ‘Farr-i Izadi’, on which the Mughal kingship was based, was first developed by which one of the following Sufi saints?
Which river is praised in the fifth century Tamil epic, Silappadikaram?
Iqta in medieval India meant:
Which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. The Bakshali Manuscript written in the Gatha language (a refined version of old Prakrit) using the Sharada script deals with topics such as fractions, square roots, arithmetic and geometric progressions.
2. In the field of geometry, Aryabhatta described the various properties of a circle giving a very accurate value for pi (π) correct to four decimal places at 3.1416.
3. Sharangadhara Samhita is an important text on political system of ancient India.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
At which of the following places was diamond mining carried out during the Delhi Sultanate period?
Which one of the following was primarily associated with ‘Dadni’ system?
Which one of the following is listed in the Ain-i-Akbari as one of the ‘Indian sciences’ prescribed by Akbar for scholars to learn at school?
Which one of the following statements about the grammarian Katyayana is correct?
In which one of the following works has Amir Khusrau praised the climate of India, its languages, notably Sanskrit, its arts and music and even its animals?
Important Questions from Medieval History
Which Delhi Sultan is credited with systematically institutionalizing the 'Iqta' system, an administrative and land revenue assignment that significantly structured the governance of the nascent Sultanate by assigning territories to nobles and military commanders in lieu of cash salaries?
Regarding Indian history, which of the following is/are correct?
1. Arcot Nizamat emerged from Hyderabad state.
2. The Kingdom of Mysore emerged from the Vijayanagara Empire.
3. The kingdom of Rohilkhand was formed from the territories conquered by Ahmad Shah Durrani
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Banjaras during the medieval period of Indian history were generally
What was/were the object/objects of Queen Victoria’s Proclamation (1858)?
(1) To disclaim any intention to annex Indian States
(2) To place the Indian administration under the British Crown
(3) To regulate East India Company’s trade with India
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
What was the immediate reason for Ahmad Shah Abdali to invade India and fight the Third Battle of Panipat?
