Q. With reference to Indian history, consider the following statements:

  1. The Dutch established their factories/warehouses on the east coast on lands granted to them by Gajapati rulers.
  2. Alfonso de Albuquerque captured Goa from the Bijapur Sultanate.
  3. The English East India Company established a factory at Madras on a plot of land leased from a representative of the Vijayanagara empire.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

  • 1 and 2 only
  • 2 and 3 only
  • 1 and 3 only
  • 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only

Dutch East Indian Company
  • In March 1602, by a charter of the Dutch parliament, the Dutch East India Company was established with powers to make wars, settle treaties, acquire territories and build fortresses.
  • The main purpose of the Dutch remained determined in eliminating the Portuguese and British merchandise powers from India and South East Asia.
  • The Dutch East India Company established factories in India at Masulipatnam in 1605 AD, Pulicat (1610 AD), Surat (1616 AD), Bimlipatam (1641 AD), Karaikal (1645 AD).
  • The Gajapati rulers ruled over Kalinga, large parts of Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal, and the eastern and central parts of Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand from 1435 to 1541 CE.
    • Kapilendra, the minister of Bhanudeva IV (1414-1435), usurped the throne in 1435 and laid the foundation of the Gajapati rule in Odisha. After Pratapa Rudra’s death (1540), his successors could hardly hold the empire intact, and the end of Suryavamsi (Gajapati) dynasty came soon after (1542), whereas the Dutch East India Company was formed in 1602 through a charter.
  • In India, the most significant event was the Battle of Colachel in 1741, which was fought between the Dutch East India Company and State of Travancore army.
    • This was a major defeat of European power in India and marked the beginning of the end of the Dutch.
  • Due to the corruption and bankruptcy, the Dutch East India Company was formally dissolved in 1800.
Alfonso De Albuquerque (1509-1515)
  • He is considered to be the real founder of the Portuguese power in India. 
  • In 1510 AD, Afonso de Albuquerque captured Goa from the Sultan of Bijapur, Ismail Adil Shah.
  • It was done with the help of Krishnadev Raya, ruler of the Vijaynagar empire.
  • His rule was dominated by the persecution of Muslims.
  • He captured Bhatkal from Sri Krishna Devaraya (1510) of the Vijayanagara empire.
  • He initiated the policy of marrying the natives of India and banned the practice of Sati in his area of influence.
English East India Company in South India
  • The Vijayanagar rulers appointed chieftains known as Nayaks who ruled over the different regions of the province almost independently.
  • Damarla Venkatapathy Nayak, an influential chieftain under Venkata III, gave the grant of a piece of land lying between the river Cooum almost at the point it enters the sea and another river is known as Egmore river to the English in 1639. 
  • English East India Company established a factory in Madras in 1639 on land leased from representatives of the Vijayanagara Empire called the Nayakas.