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Corruption and greed from "summary" of The Anarchy by William Dalrymple
The British East India Company was a corporation with a singular focus: profit. Its primary concern was not the welfare of the Indian people or the development of the country, but rather the accumulation of wealth for its shareholders. This relentless pursuit of profit led to widespread corruption within the Company, as its officials exploited their positions for personal gain. The Company's administrators, appointed by the British government, were given free rein to govern the vast territories under Company control. With little oversight or accountability, these officials were able to amass enormous fortunes through a combination of bribery, extortion, and embezzlement. The pursuit of personal wealth often took precedence over the interests of the Indian population, leading to widespread suffering and deprivation. The Company's thirst for profit also led to a culture of greed among its employees. Rather than focusing on the long-term development of the territories under their control, Company officials sought to extract as much wealth as possible in the shortest amount of time. This short-sighted approach ultimately proved detrimental to both the Indian people and the Company itself. The Company's corrupt practices and insatiable greed sparked a series of rebellions and uprisings across India, as the local population grew increasingly disillusioned with British rule. These conflicts, which culminated in the Indian Rebellion of 1857, marked the beginning of the end for the East India Company's dominance in the subcontinent.- The Company's legacy in India was one of exploitation, oppression, and greed. Its relentless pursuit of profit at the expense of the Indian people ultimately led to its downfall, as the forces of corruption and greed proved to be unsustainable in the long run.
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