Business, Race, and Politics in British India, c.1850-1960

This is a study of the political and economic activities of an important group of British businessmen in India between 1850 and 1960. Though denounced by Indian nationalists as the economic arm of the British Raj, the firms of these `Managing Agents' seemed unassailable before the First World War. However, during the inter-war period they rapidly lost their commanding position to both Indian and other foreign competitors. Dr Misra argues that the failure of thesefirms was, in part, the consequence of their particular (and ultimately self-defeating) attitudes towards business, politics, and race. She casts new light on British colonial society in India, and makes an important contribution to current debates on the nature of the British Empire and the causes ofBritain's relative economic decline.

this is an excellent study of an important subject. The theme of the book is clear throughout, and it is well written, and refreshingly free of pretentious jargon, This book is a significant contribution to the understanding of the political economy of the managing agency system. Its fresh angle of approach is sustained by the use of a wide range of original sources, Misra deftly highlights key differences in cultural attitudes between multinationals and British Managing Agency Houses, and the effect this had on the latter's performance ... The anecdotal evidence is abundant, apt and refreshing ... the study, as a pathfinder, is excellent. Gita Piramal, Business History Review, This is a powerfully argued work ... an interesting study of the mechanics of British business in the Indian sub-continent particularly of the nineteenth century. It deserves a wide readership among business, imperial and post-colonial historians alike., This is a thoroughly researched, well-documented and marvellous book. It will appeal to scholars of South Asia as well as of business history ... This book sheds light on imperial commercial attitudes and contributes a great deal to the corpus of exciting new work delineating various aspects of colonial rule in South Asia.