The V.O.C. and its Influence on South India

Seminar paper from the year 2006 in the subject Dutch (Literature, Culture and Language), grade: 1,0, University of Applied Sciences Rotterdam, course: Dutch Culture, language: English, abstract: The Netherlands have a long heritage in trading and were once a mighty colonial power due to its outstanding naval power. Symbol of this trading and sea power was the Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie (V.O.C.), 'the most powerful multinational in the history of the world' , which endured nearly two entire centuries., India, on the other hand, was the possibly most sought destination those days. Not only owing to its wealth of spices and raw materials, many European nations have sought their way to India and its riches. The Dutch conquered the southern parts of India, such as Malabar and Coromandel and affected the subcontinent in many terms, pursuing mainly trading purposes. The question arising from the relatively short presence of the Dutch and the V.O.C. on the Indian subcontinent aims at the extent to which that presence affected current India. Which aspects were brought to the Indian subcontinent by the Dutch seafarers of the V.O.C.? Which effects did the presence of the Dutch have on South Indian history? In how far was this era decisive to both the V.O.C.'s and India's destiny? In order to understand the interrelations better, the V.O.C. and its history shall be introduced thoroughly in the beginning. Reasons for both the rapid increase in prosperity and for the decay of the global trading empire are to be explained as well as the extent of the sphere of the operations of the V.O.C. Then, a close-up to the Dutch East India Company in India in ancient times will follow, concentrating on both political and economical issues, on the one hand, and on other ancillary aspects, on the other one. Derived from this part, an analysis of current legacy in India, hinting at the era of occupation by the Dutch, will be attached to the essay. Finally, a completing point of view shall be taken in order to draw a conclusion regarding the Dutch influence on the Southern India of today.