द इण्डियन स्ट्रगल / भारतीय स्वाधीनता संग्राम (नेताजी सुभाष चन्द्र बोस - ऐतिहासिक विश्लेषण)

INTRODUCTION 17
The Dharma Sastras also, with a mass of subsidiary literature,
are of immense value. But most interesting of all is Artha-
shastra of Kautilya which probably belongs to the fourth
century B.C.
To resume the thread of our narrative, with the gradual
disruption of the Moghul Empire, the question arose as to
which power would take its place. About this time, two in-
digenous powers made a bid for supremacy—the Mahratta
power from Central India and the Sikh power from the
north-west. The Mahratta power was consolidated by
Sivaji (1627-80) who was great as a general and great also as
a ruler. After his death the Mahratta power flourished till the
end of the eighteenth century. Its expansion was checked
in 1671 at the third battle of Panipat, where the Mahrattas
were defeated, and it was finally overthrown in 1818 by the
British. Though Mahratta rule was based on benevolent
despotism it could boast of a highly efficient army and an
excellent civil administration. The Sikh power was con-
solidated by Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1780-1839), who, during
his lifetime built up a fine army and an excellent civil adminis-
tration. But after his death, no one with equal ability could
take his place and when war broke out between the Sikhs and
the British, the former were overthrown. Unfortunately for
India, while she was going through a period of political
anarchy and was attempting to evolve a new social and
political order, she became the sport of the European powers.
The Portuguese, the Dutch, the French and the British came
in succession. Each of them, not content with carrying on
trade or preaching religion, tried to wrest political power from
the warring chieftains. In the long run a lively struggle took
place between the French and the British. Luck favoured
the latter. Moreover, British diplomacy was more astute and
their strategy more clever—while their Home Government
gave them greater support than did France to her nationals.
The French made South India the base of their operations
and attempted to dominate India from the south. The
British, following historical precedent, operated from the
north, after seizing Bengal, and were more successful than the
French.
B