Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'East Bengal'

Bengal raw silk was never renowned for its high quality, yet it attracted the interest of the European trading companies from the seventeenth century. This thesis explores the English East India Company’s silk manufacturing activities in Bengal and the Company’s trade in Bengal raw silk in the late-eighteenth and early-nineteenth centuries. The Company’s interest in Bengal raw silk was driven both by economic and political factors – profit maximization and mercantilist ideas about governance. The English East India Company considered Bengal raw silk to be an item with potential high returns as the British silk weaving industry required supplies of raw material unavailable domestically. However, the quality of the Bengal raw silk was low and it could not be easily used in British weaving. Britain thus relied on the importation of raw silk from Italy, Turkey and the Mediterranean region. The English East India Company saw an opportunity to replace these supplies with silk imported from Bengal. In order to improve the quality of the raw silk produced in Bengal, the Company decided to adopt the Piedmontese system of silk reeling – the most advanced reeling system in Europe. The thesis shows that this new system of reeling was profitable. Yet, the quality of the Bengal raw silk did not improve as much as expected: a large part of the silk produced was of substandard quality. My thesis argues that the primary reason why substandard raw silk was produced was the inadequate institutional framework of production which facilitated principal-agent problems.

Le Golfe du Bengale (GdB), dans l'océan indien Nord, est sous l'influence d'intenses vents de mousson, qui se renversent saisonnièrement. Les fortes pluies et les apports fluviaux associés à la mousson de Sud-Ouest font du GdB l'une des régions les moins salées des océans tropicaux. La forte stratification haline proche de la surface qui en découle contribue à limiter le mélange vertical, ce qui maintient des températures de surface élevées et favorise la convection atmosphérique et les pluies. Cette stratification en sel a ainsi des implications profondes sur les échanges air-mer et sur le climat des pays riverains. L'objectif de ma thèse est d'améliorer la description de la variabilité de la salinité de surface (SSS) du GdB, et de comprendre ses mécanismes aux échelles de temps saisonnières à interannuelles. Les climatologies existantes ont permis de mettre en évidence un cycle saisonnier marqué de la SSS, avec un dessalement intense de la partie Nord du bassin pendant l'automne, suivi par une expansion de ces eaux dessalées le long du bord Ouest du bassin. Cette langue dessalée s'érode finalement pendant l'hiver, pour revenir à son extension minimale au printemps. Cependant, la rareté des observations in-situ de SSS ne permet d'observer les fluctuations interannuelles autour de ce cycle saisonnier que de manière parcellaire dans le GdB. Le développement récent de la télédétection spatiale de la SSS (missions SMOS et AQUARIUS) a ouvert de nouvelles opportunités à cet égard. Cette technologie reste toutefois délicate dans le cas d'un bassin de petite taille tel que le GdB, du fait des contaminations éventuelles du signal de SSS par les interférences radio et par les sources d'origine continentale. Une validation systématique des produits satellites par comparaison à un jeu de données in-situ exhaustif montre qu'Aquarius capture de façon réaliste les évolutions saisonnières et interannuelles de la SSS partout dans le GdB. A l'inverse, SMOS ne parvient pas à restituer une salinité meilleure que les climatologies existantes
Located in the Northern Indian Ocean, the Bay of Bengal (BoB) is forced by intense seasonally reversing monsoon winds. Heavy rainfall and strong river runoffs associated with the southwest monsoon makes the bay one of the freshest regions in the tropical ocean. This surface fresh water flux induces strong near surface salinity stratification, which reduces vertical mixing and maintains high sea surface temperatures and deep atmospheric convection and rainfall. This intense near surface haline stratification has therefore profound implications on the air-sea exchanges, and on the climate of the neighboring countries. The goal of my thesis is to improve the description of the Sea surface salinity (SSS) variability in the BoB and to understand the oceanic and atmospheric processes driving this variability at seasonal and interannual timescales. Existing climatologies reveal a marked seasonal cycle of SSS with an intense freshening of the northern part of the basin during fall that subsequently spreads along the western boundary. This fresh pool finally erodes during winter, to reach its minimal extent in spring. The paucity of in-situ SSS observations however prevented to monitor the interannual fluctuations around this seasonal picture with a good spatial coverage. The recent development of SSS remote-sensing capabilities (with SMOS and AQUARIUS satellites) may help with that regard. However this is particularly challenging for a small semi-enclosed basin such as the Bay of Bengal, because of the potential contamination of the SSS signal by radio frequency interferences and land effects in the near coastal environment. A thorough validation of these satellite products to an exhaustive gridded in-situ dataset shows that Aquarius reasonably captures the large-scale observed seasonal and interannual SSS evolution everywhere in the BoB while SMOS does not perform better than existing climatologies, advocating for improvements of its SSS retrieval algorithm there

L'objectif principal de cette thèse est de restituer l'évolution passée des moussons asiatiques au cours du Quaternaire et d’en évaluer leurs impacts sur l’érosion continentale et les transferts sédimentaires terre-mer, à partir de l’étude de carottes marines collectées dans la Baie du Bengale, l'ouest de la mer des Philippines et la mer d'Arabie. La stratégie scientifique mise en œuvre implique des analyses minéralogiques (argiles), sédimentologiques (granulométrie laser) et géochimiques (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr et εNd) afin de restituer les zones sources sédimentaires, les conditions d’érosion et de transfert sédimentaires à l’océan. Les analyses de la concentration en élément des terres rares et des valeurs de l’εNd ont également été faites sur des échantillons d’eau de mer et de foraminifères collectés dans la Baie du Bengale afin de contraindre l’utilisation de ce traceur dans un contexte de très forts changements saisonniers de débit des fleuves Himalayens. Cette stratégie nous a permis, entre autre, de restituer les précipitations de mousson du domaine ouest tropical Pacific au cours du Quaternaire et d’établir un lien avec l’évolution à long terme de la dynamique de circulation méridienne de type ENSO. Nous avons également apporté de nouvelles contraintes sur l’utilisation du traceur εNd dans les foraminifères de la Baie du Bengale en vue d’en restituer la dynamique passée de l’érosion himalayenne
The main objective of this PhD study is to reconstruct the evolution of the Asian monsoons during the Quaternary and their impacts on the continental erosion and sedimentary transfers from land to sea by the investigation of sediments cores collected in the Northern Bay of Bengal, the western Philippines Sea and the Arabian Sea. The implemented scientific strategy involves mineralogical (clay size fraction), sedimentological (grain-size laser) and geochemical (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and εNd) analyses in order to establish sedimentary sources, conditions of erosion and transfer of sediments to the Ocean. The analyses of the concentration of Rare Earth Elements (REE) and εNd were also made on seawater and foraminifera samples to better constrain the εNd as a proxy of weathering in a context of strong seasonal variations of sediment discharges by Himalayan rivers. Clay mineralogy and laser grain-size analyses have been conducted on sediments from core MD06-3050 collected on the Benham Rise (Philippines Sea). Siliciclastic grain-size results indicate variations of the relative proportion of three grain-size sub-populations corresponding to eolian dusts (EM2 about 9-11 μm) and Luzon rivers inputs (EM1 about 2-5 μm and EM3 about 19-25 μm). The long-term evolutions of the EM1/EM2 and smectite/(illite+chlorite) ratios permit to reconstruct variations of the contribution of detrital material deriving from the volcanic arc of Luzon and rainfall intensity of this tropical region. At long time scale, periods of intensification of monsoon rainfall on Luzon are associated to a reduction of precipitation on central China. These periods are also associated to an increase of the zonal gradient of sea surface temperatures on the equatorial Pacific Ocean suggesting a strengthening of El Niña conditions. These results highlight for the first time a strong role of the dynamics of the meridian circulation of ENSO on the long-term changes of rainfall of the tropical western Pacific during the Quaternary. In the Arabian Sea, clay mineralogy, siliciclastic grain-size, ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio and εNd were analysed on Quaternary sediments of the IODP site U1457. Our results suggest a change in the relative proportions of sediments from the Deccan Trapps (smectite) and the Indus river (mainly illite and chlorite). Variability of sedimentary sources and sediment transport (turbidites activity) to the Indus Fan have been reconstructed and attributed to monsoon rainfall and the sea level variations. The concentrations of REE combined with εNd were analysed on seawater samples collected in June 2012 along a North-South cross section in the Bay of Bengal. We highlighted from normalized REE patterns that the contributions of dissolved REE from the Ganges-Brahmaputra river system was the main source of the dissolved REE of surface waters of the Bay of Bengal, whereas the desorption of lithogenic particles dominate the dissolved REE of the intermediate and deep waters masses. We then revalued the residence time of the dissolved REE in the Bay of Bengal. A comparison of εNd, obtained just before the increase of the Ganges-Brahmaputra river discharge inferred by Indian monsoon rainfall, with the results obtained by Singh and al. (2012) for seawater samples collected after the peak of river discharge, allowed us to highlight for the first time a seasonal variability of seawater εNd of the Bay of Bengal. εNd have been analysed on planktonic foraminiferas of core MD77-176 located at 1375 m water depth to reconstruct for the first time the seawater εNd record of the intermediate waters masses of northern Bay of Bengal for the last 27 kyr. This new seawater εNd record of the Northern Bay of Bengal give us new constrain for this proxy already used to reconstruct past changes of the Himalayan weathering

The Seven Years’ War and the resulting Treaty of Paris of 1763 represent a watershed in British domestic and imperial histories. Not only did the war result in Britain acquiring vast new territories and rights in North America and South Asia, but it also saddled Britain with a national debt of over £140,000,000. The challenge for British politicians in the post-1763 era was not only finding a balance between the need to secure territorial gains while searching for a means to reduce costs and raise revenues to pay down the debt, but rather to do so without infringing on the constitutional rights of colonists and chartered companies. The political ramifications of the Treaty of Paris were equally important. Disputes over the terms of the Peace tore apart the Newcastle-Pitt coalition, resulting in the dissolution of the Whig Broadbottom. With the Duke of Newcastle and his allies in opposition alongside William Pitt, the political situation was thrown into turmoil. Although the confused state of politics in the short-term undoubtedly resulted in an opposition which acted, as Namier suggested, on the basis of self-interest rather than on principles, it can also be said to have provided the matrix within which historians can observe the genesis of new policies of domestic and imperial governance. It was precisely the lack of ideological identification in politics at the accession of George III that allowed British political ideologies in the age of the American Revolution to so quickly develop alongside the formulation and implementation of, as well as in the opposition responses to, the new challenges facing British parliamentarians in the governance of the Empire. This work therefore traces the development of distinct imperial ideologies among British politicians as they emerged in response to the various imperial crises of the 1760s and 1770s. Additionally, it will be shown that the new and unprecedented crises in both American and Indian affairs were brought about primarily as a means of obtaining revenues for the Treasury. The interrelated nature of the imperial problems in the east and the west, as well as the attempts of British politicians to resolve them, will be examined primarily through the policies made surrounding the article of tea.

Cette these a pour but de decrire le changement de nature de la presence britannique au bengale entre la bataille de plassey et le vote du regulating act par le parlement britannique en 1773. Cette periode est marquee par une crise de croissance du systeme de gouvernement de l'east india company. La compagnie, prise de court par les resultats imprevus des actes de ses representants au bengale, se vit brusquement placee a la tete d'un grand pays riche et peuple ce qui entraina une augmentation considerable des responsabilites administratives du gouvernement a calcutta qui dut faire appel a un plus grand nombre de servants, provoquant ainsi une forte croissance de la societe europeenne au bengale. L'auteur se propose de retracer cette evolution de la situation au bengale en suivant la carriere de william bolts. Les quatre premiers chapitres de la these dressent le decor des activites de la compagnie et de ses agents pendant la periode etudiee. Les sept chapitres suivants retracent la carriere de william bolts au bengale, en mettant l'accent sur ses entreprises privees, qui sont a l'origine de ses collisions avec ses superieurs hierarchiques. Les trois chapitres qui suivent traitent les actions en justice que bolts intente aupres des cours de la metropole contre ses anciens superieurs hierarchiques, ainsi que le defi public qu'il lance a la compagnie en publiant ses considerations on india affairs, oeuvre extremement critique, qui eut un retentissement considerable dans l'opinion publique londonienne. Enfin, le dernier chapitre resume les critiques formulees par bolts a rencontre de la compagnie elle-meme et de la facon dont elle gouverne ses possessions indiennes. Il est egalement fait etat des solutions qu'il suggere pour remedier aux defauts, anomalies et abus qu'il a expose; au public. Ces deux themes sont ensuite compares aux motifs qu'a le gouvernement britannique d'intervenir dans les affaires de la compagnie en 1772, et aux mesures effectives qui decoulerent de cette intervention, telles qu'elles figurent dans le regulating act de 1773. Bolts a ete le premier a reussir a "populariser" la question de l'inde et a la placer au coeur de l'attention et des debats publics, de meme qu'il fournit au peuple britannique la metaphore la plus repandue pour decrire ce pays, qu'il appelle "le plus riche joyau de la couronne britannique"
This thesis describes the development in the nature and circumstances of british presence in india between the defeat of siraj-ud-daula at plassey and the regulating act of 1773. During this period, the english east india company was faced with an enormous growth of its administrational responsibilities caused by the acts of its proper servants in bengal over whom they could exercise but a limited control. This growth of administrational responsibilities provoked a growth of the number of servants in bengal and thus of the british community at calcutta. The company's administrational structures were rapidly overtaken by the circumstances and the company's bengal government experienced great difficulties in restraining its subjects. The author proposes an inside view of this evolution by following the career of william bolts. The first four chapters describe the company itself and the role and activities of its servants in bengal. The next seven chapters follow the career of william bolts paying particular attention to his private trade, which was at the origin of his collisions with the company's bengal executive. Three chapters are dedicated to the judicial actions bolts subsequently brings before the courts of justice in britain against his former superiors. The chapters also describe bolts' public attack on the company in publishing his considerations on india affairs, provoking the outrage of the metropolitan public. The last chapter pays attention to the particular criticisms bolts utters at the company's address and describes the solutions he proposes to repair the damage done and to put british government of india on a sound basis. These two themes are compared to the motives the british government had to interfere in the company's affairs in 1772 and to the measures that resulted from this interference as formulated in the regulating act of 1773. William bolts has been the first to "popularise" indian affairs and to place the subject at the heart of public attention and popular debate. He was the man who furnished the british with that most widespread of metaphors to describe the country they were to govern for more than two centuries: "the richest jewel in the british crown"

This thesis investigates the way that second generation British Indian Bengali middle class, predominantly Hindu respondents, have attempted to communicate their “modern” middle class respectability through their social practices, work and lifestyles. In their reproduction of this respectability, they attempt to distance negative British South Asian stereotypes prevalent in the media, work institutions and in day-to-day life; sometimes to the extent of ‘othering' other South Asians generally or British Bangladeshi Muslim Sylhetis specifically. Second generation's adaptive responses to racism and stigmatised stereotypes prevalent in British society also reaffirms the British Indian Bengali's presumptions of their ethnic distinctiveness and justifying homogenising racist stereotyping of these ‘other' South Asian groups. This thesis examines several aspects of their lives that are affected by these distinguishing tactics, through: presentation of their ethnicity; middle class identity; position of women within “the community”; ideas of love and romance and “type” of marriage. Additionally, there is an examination of how the second generation are increasingly challenging the assertion that all South Asians are primarily driven by ethnicity, religion and regional-language markers in their search for a marriage partner. Marriage trends amongst British Indian Bengalis are showing distinct moves away from finding a partner through ascribed statuses. Likewise, the second generation in their social interaction also exhibit a weaker sense of identification with their regional-language groups.

博士
國立交通大學
社會與文化研究所
107
Migration, as a phenomenon has become an integral part of modern society throughout the world. This paper focuses the ways, the Nepali and Bangladeshi migrants are included as ‘unauthorized voters’ within the democratic political processes in India. But the same groups of migrants also experience social exclusion as ‘outsiders.’ It attempts to study the migration of Bangladeshi and Nepali migrants (irregular) crossing the Indian borders of North-east region and West Bengal; that has emerged as a critical and debatable issue in the Indian politics and public discourse. Treated as two separate Diasporic communities, both connect to the north-eastern society in diverse manners. This study is a qualitative work conducted to underline the problems faced by not only the migrants but also the native Indians due to the ‘religious disorganization’ prevalent in the region. Importantly, this thesis has underlined the complexities of the government ‘apparatus’ and their impacts within Indian society. These apparatuses in the form of citizenship and immigration laws, border policies, and communal division will throw a reflection on policies under the modern concept of nation-states headed by political giants. Thus, it is argued that the apparatuses in the form of mechanisms further work for the displacement and mistreatment of the migrants' communities. Fragile social aspects like the ‘religion’ and ‘cultural’ differences are manipulated to strike a balance of division between the politics of migrants and social control. It has worked to understand the varying types of ‘political dividends’ shared between the Nepalis and Bangladeshis as two different cases of migrants in north-east and West Bengal. While concluding, I have highlighted the rising of ‘religious intolerance’ and communal provoking in Indian society. With the present nationalist government in power and adaption of extreme measures combined with derogatory terms for the minority groups has given rise to a situation of fear, hatred, and confusion in the contemporary society of north-east and West-Bengal in India.

This thesis is an investigation into the historical evolution of Ajegunle Raga, a reggae form developed within an urban ghetto in Lagos called Ajegunle and the construction and negotiation of identities therein. The research further argues that Ajegunle Raga is a home-grown oppositional music subculture that draws inspiration from diasporic musical subcultures like Reggae and Hip Hop but retains a genuine representation of Ajegunle in its tales of survival, poverty, marginalization and expressions of creativity within the ambience of the music.