Merchant Families, Maritime Commerce and Colonial Engineering in the British Port of Madras, 1639-1914

This book opens up the world of maritime trade of Madras since 1639 with Britain’s need to gain better access to commerce and the decisions that led to the need to bolster its supplies. The analysis begins with merchants and the emergence of business families connected to the commercial hub of Madras in diamonds, corals and other commodities magnifying the business relations and trading operations. The volume explores the British vision of expansion chiefly focusing on port and harbour construction together colonial engineering for disembarking men and merchandise: The study enhances our understanding on the process of international trade, global capitalism and colonialism by unraveling the intricacies involved in the shift in trade dynamics till the outbreak of World War I in 1914.

S. Jeyascela Stephen is former directeur, Institut pour études Indo-Européennes (2013-2023). He was Professor of Maritime History (2001-2013) at Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan. He has authored numerous books on the maritime history of early modern India. His books have been translated into Chinese, Danish, German and Tamil. He is the recipient of the Best Book Prize of the Year 1999 from the Government of Tamil Nadu. He received the Thiru Vi. Ka Award of 2023 by the Government of Tamil Nadu.