Empire And Information: Intelligence Gathering And Social Communication In India, 1780-1870 (cambridge Studies In Indian History And Society)

In a penetrating account of the evolution of British intelligence gathering in India, C. A. Bayly shows how networks of Indian spies, runners and political secretaries were recruited by the British to secure information about their subjects. He also examines the social and intellectual origins of these informants, and considers how the colonial authorities interpreted and often misinterpreted the information they supplied. As Professor Bayly demonstrates, it was such misunderstandings which ultimately contributed to the failure of the British to anticipate the mutinies of 1857. He argues, however, that, even before this, India's complex systems of communication were challenging the political and intellectual dominance of the European rulers. 1. Prologue: Surveillance And Communication In Early Modern India -- 2. Political Intelligence And Indigenous Informants During The Conquest Of India, C. 1785-1815 -- 3. Misinformation And Failure On The Fringes Of Empire -- 4. Between Human Intelligence And Colonial Knowledge -- 5. Indian Ecumene: An Indigenous Public Sphere -- 6. Useful Knowledge And Godly Society, C. 1830-50 -- 7. Colonial Controversies: Astronomers And Physicians -- 8. Colonial Controversies: Language And Land -- 9. Information Order, The Rebellion Of 1857-9 And Pacification -- 10. Epilogue: Information, Surveillance And The Public Arena After The Rebellion -- Conclusion: 'knowing The Country'. C.a. Bayly. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 377-400) And Index. In a penetrating account of the evolution of British intelligence gathering in India, C. A. Bayly shows how networks of Indian spies were recruited by the British to secure military, political and social information about their subjects. He also examines the social and intellectual origins of these'native informants', and considers how the colonial authorities interpreted and often misinterpreted the information they supplied. It was such misunderstandings which ultimately contributed to the failure of the British to anticipate the rebellions of 1857. The author argues, however, that even before this, complex systems of debate and communication were challenging the political and intellectual dominance of the European rulers. In a penetrating account of the evolution of British intelligence gathering in India, C. A. Bayly shows how networks of Indian spies were recruited by the British to secure military, political and social information about their subjects. He also examines the social and intellectual origins of these 'native informants', and considers how the colonial authorities interpreted and often misinterpreted the information they supplied. It was such misunderstandings which ultimately contributed to the failure of the British to anticipate the rebellions of 1857. The author argues, however, that even before this, complex systems of debate and communication were challenging the political and intellectual dominance of the European rulers "The British conquered India within two generations, not only because of their military superiority, but also because they deployed a sophisticated intelligence system. In a penetrating account of the evolution of British intelligence gathering in India between the wars of annexation in 1793-1818 and the aftermath of the Mutiny-Rebellion of 1857, C.A. Bayley shows how networks of Indian running-spies and political secretaries were recruited by the British to secure military, political and social information about their subjects." Without good political and military intelligence the British could never have established their rule in India or consolidated the dominant international position of the United Kingdom.