National Geographic Treasure Seekers Empires of India

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00:00:21 India a land of seductive riches,
00:00:25 land of the Kohinoor diamond
00:00:31 a priceless gem which legend says
00:00:36 to test mankind's greed.
00:00:41 Possessed of such wealth and beauty,
00:00:43 thought Krishna, would men
00:00:49 or would they think and
00:01:01 This is the story of India
00:01:04 One stormed south
00:01:08 one came from across the seas,
00:01:11 both were hungry for wealth
00:01:15 Each would become his own answer to
00:01:19 wise man or beast?
00:02:05 For three hundred years the
00:02:11 It was a Mughal emperor who created
00:02:15 called the Taj Mahal,
00:02:28 The wealth and sophistication of
00:02:34 Here, Mughal kings ruled
00:02:36 from the famous peacock throne
00:02:47 All these treasures of
00:02:49 were the legacy of one remarkable
00:02:54 a wild nomad who was not
00:02:59 His name was Babur.
00:03:09 Babur's life began in 1483
00:03:13 a small kingdom in the highlands
00:03:17 Fergana was one square of a
00:03:21 of competing dynasties,
00:03:24 each struggling to expand
00:03:28 But a little empire wasn't
00:03:34 Babur's dynasty was part Turk
00:03:39 "Mughals" as the Persians
00:03:43 Babur was a direct descendant
00:03:45 of the two greatest conquerors of
00:03:49 Genghis Khan
00:03:55 He wanted something that would be
00:03:59 From the very beginning,
00:04:01 Babur tried to take inspiration
00:04:06 These were his two heroes.
00:04:07 And it was probably this reason
00:04:13 to think of India as
00:04:22 Born to nobility,
00:04:28 Almost immediately other warlords tried
00:04:33 Not surprisingly for one so young,
00:04:36 the fortunes of war started to
00:04:41 Before long, he had lost much of
00:04:45 deserted in droves to hitch their
00:04:54 All seven or eight hundred of
00:04:59 It was a terrible blow.
00:05:02 I remember, I couldn't help crying.
00:05:09 He was only fifteen.
00:05:15 It was a harsh education which made
00:05:25 But his early failures toughened him.
00:05:29 If you desire to rule and conquer,
00:05:31 you don't just fold your hands
00:05:40 Action meant war.
00:05:44 And with whichever followers
00:05:47 he started to wage guerrilla warfare
00:05:53 He and his men seesawed
00:05:58 Allies deserted him;
00:06:03 One day in 1501, he laughed
00:06:06 a sword he had given to an ally as a
00:06:11 was the same one that almost split
00:06:17 My own soul is my most
00:06:20 My own heart, my truest confidant.
00:06:30 Always, Babur's ambition was to found
00:06:36 He needed children who would be
00:06:44 He admitted he was so shy
00:06:47 his mother and sisters had to bully
00:06:57 But before long he had more wives,
00:07:02 on whom the weight of Babur's dreams
00:07:06 With his succession assured,
00:07:08 the question that now dogged him was:
00:07:16 He had lost his kingdom and was
00:07:21 So where was the land in which
00:07:30 Slowly, Babur's reputation as
00:07:34 and with it the perception that
00:07:41 Lured by the promise of
00:07:43 warriors of other dynasties began to
00:07:55 In 1504, Babur's fortunes took a
00:08:01 He caught wind of tumult in the
00:08:08 Here, he thought, was a chance.
00:08:15 At the age of 21,
00:08:18 with his small band of men
00:08:26 Warriors joined him as he approached
00:08:39 The battle for Kabul was short
00:08:47 As he settled into his new home,
00:08:50 Babur immediately fell in love
00:08:55 its cool climate, and the beautiful
00:09:06 Kabul signified a new beginning,
00:09:14 but not, of course,
00:09:20 Not far to the south lay the vast,
00:09:29 He had heard many stories
00:09:33 He realized it was now within
00:09:42 From the time I took Kabul,
00:10:02 In 1504, the Indian sub continent
00:10:05 Was a disunited mass of
00:10:10 Hindu in the south,
00:10:14 One of the largest and most powerful
00:10:18 controlled by the sultanate
00:10:22 Babur knew he stood no chance
00:10:24 of directly confronting
00:10:27 But having taken Kabul, he lost no
00:10:31 into the plains of northern India
00:10:41 With a small army he moved
00:10:46 He was amazed by what he found.
00:10:52 I had never experienced such heat
00:10:59 different plants, different trees,
00:11:04 different tribes and people,
00:11:09 It was astonishing,
00:11:16 India exceeded his wildest
00:11:21 He discovered beautifully
00:11:25 refined sugar, perfumes and spices.
00:11:30 Here indeed was a rich land.
00:11:44 As he headed back to Kabul,
00:11:50 But he would have to bide his time.
00:11:58 For 20 years Babur
00:12:04 20 years in which he finally had time
00:12:15 Until now he had been a clean living
00:12:20 In Kabul all that started to change.
00:12:28 At that time I had not committed
00:12:34 and did not know the delight
00:12:37 as it should be known.
00:12:41 Here all the implements of pleasure
00:12:48 If I didn't drink now,
00:12:53 He discovered a taste for fine wines,
00:12:55 and the sweetmeats laced with
00:13:01 In Kabul he drank often.
00:13:03 His memoirs filled with parties,
00:13:05 drunkenness and head splitting
00:13:13 We drank on the boat until
00:13:16 We got on our horses,
00:13:20 then let them gallop free reined.
00:13:23 The next morning they told me I had
00:13:28 I swear I didn't remember a thing,
00:13:30 except that when I got back to
00:13:41 In Kabul, Babur learned how to let go,
00:13:47 if he was ever to take Hindustan
00:13:54 He had no qualms about
00:13:59 I had one of the soldiers clubbed
00:14:03 He died.
00:14:05 The others were successfully
00:14:26 As he explored Afghanistan,
00:14:28 this ruthless nomad who was perfectly
00:14:31 putting entire cities to the sword,
00:14:40 All sorts grow in these foothills;
00:14:42 I once counted them and found
00:14:48 We named one the rose scented tulip
00:14:52 rather like a rose;
00:14:54 it grows all by itself
00:15:03 Joy was to sit peacefully in one of
00:15:07 and write poetry.
00:15:11 He built no fewer than
00:15:21 Before long, Babur's seven wives had
00:15:26 He was devoted to all of them
00:15:31 Humayun, who he was determined would
00:15:41 Babur bided his time, watching and
00:15:52 Finally, in 1526, it arrived.
00:15:57 The Sultanate of Delhi was overtaken
00:16:04 Babur realized his moment had come.
00:16:07 It would be now or never.
00:16:11 Babur marched into Northern India
00:16:17 The sultan of Delhi marched to
00:16:19 with 100,000 men
00:16:26 They met on the plain of Panipat
00:16:31 Babur's trump card was
00:16:32 the discipline of his troops
00:16:37 The Indian elephants charged
00:16:38 but were met with explosions
00:16:43 They panicked, spun, and stampeded.
00:16:50 The whole army fell into disarray.
00:16:53 Just a few hours after it began,
00:16:59 The Indians, including their leader,
00:17:06 Babur had just pulled off
00:17:10 Finally, Hindustan was his.
00:17:22 With Hindustan in his grasp,
00:17:26 to send Hindustani dancing girls
00:17:28 to entertain his wives
00:17:36 It was a gracious gesture.
00:17:41 His wives, covered and restrained,
00:17:43 their faces painted stiffly white
00:17:47 must have been astonished.
00:17:52 Out of meetings like this, of the
00:17:57 with the lush anarchy of India, would
00:18:12 As Babur took stock of
00:18:14 even he well versed in plunder
00:18:20 The astonishing treasuries
00:18:23 contained the Kohinoor diamond.
00:18:27 Its name, he learned meant
00:18:30 He was told it was worth enough
00:18:32 to feed the entire world
00:18:38 Offered it as a gift,
00:18:39 Babur refused and left it
00:18:44 Suddenly he was less interested in
00:18:47 than in how to govern
00:18:52 But as he surveyed Hindustan, his
00:18:58 There is no beauty in its people,
00:19:03 no poetic talent or understanding,
00:19:10 The arts and crafts have no harmony
00:19:13 There is no ice, cold water,
00:19:18 The peasantry and common people
00:19:24 Hindustan is a place of little charm.
00:19:34 But Babur was determined
00:19:36 he would build Hindustan into
00:19:44 He would introduce Mughal order
00:19:47 into what seemed to him
00:19:55 He made the princes of Hindustan,
00:19:58 submit to him and laid foundations
00:20:07 And it dawned on Babur that
00:20:08 it was no longer enough to be
00:20:12 To fulfill his dreams for his heirs,
00:20:18 A sacrifice to god was necessary.
00:20:24 In an extravagant public ceremony,
00:20:29 He had his drinking vessels crushed
00:20:31 and distributed the gold and silver
00:20:38 At the age of 43, Babur had achieved
00:20:43 He settled into Hindustan and
00:20:47 the first ever written
00:20:51 I have simply set down what happened.
00:20:53 I have reported every good and evil
00:20:58 every fault and virtue of
00:21:03 May the reader excuse me.
00:21:07 And everywhere Babur built the square,
00:21:13 which were the perfect expression
00:21:20 The radiance of nature bound by the
00:21:30 And it was in his gardens
00:21:32 that he reflected on his turbulent
00:21:36 both with enemies and himself.
00:21:41 The temptations of alcohol
00:21:46 Two years ago my craving
00:21:49 was such to bring me to
00:21:54 This year, praise God, that desire
00:22:02 The one thing that never left
00:22:11 One day as he ate a melon he found
00:22:15 as its flavor brought back memories
00:22:19 of his childhood.
00:22:24 He confessed to his youngest daughter
00:22:28 and turn the reins of power
00:22:39 But In 1530, four years after
00:22:43 Humayun fell sick.
00:22:48 His doctors gave him up for dead.
00:22:54 It was a catastrophe
00:22:56 the death not only of a beloved son
00:22:59 but the heir to Babur's dynasty
00:23:07 Babur had learned the wisdom of
00:23:11 But what on earth could he offer God
00:23:17 Priests and advisors came with
00:23:20 He could sacrifice the Kohinoor.
00:23:24 But Babur knew it was a worthless
00:23:31 He decided only one sacrifice
00:23:39 For days, he prayed fervently
00:23:42 to take his own life
00:24:00 Soon after, Humayun recovered and
00:24:09 He stayed true to his oath and
00:24:14 He'd made a deal with Allah
00:24:18 Who was he to renege?
00:24:22 He turned his face to the wall.
00:24:32 Three months later he died, aged 47.
00:25:02 Babur had ruled India
00:25:05 but the dynasty he founded
00:25:14 Akbar, Babur's grandson,
00:25:17 would for the first time
00:25:21 Shah Jahan, Babur's great great
00:25:28 The Mughals laid the foundations of
00:25:34 They were able to create
00:25:37 they were able to establish the
00:25:42 through their army, their especially
00:25:46 and other alliance policies
00:25:50 It was a very creative fusion.
00:25:54 Over the generations,
00:25:57 synonymous with opulence,
00:26:01 Before long it attracted the hungry
00:26:07 This time they would come from
00:26:17 Just over three hundred years
00:26:20 India was swallowed
00:26:25 By the end of the 19th century,
00:26:30 but India was its most
00:26:35 Queen Victoria called it
00:26:41 The man who gave all this to Britain
00:26:46 a tormented soul
00:26:50 driven only by an unwavering
00:26:53 His name was Robert Clive.
00:27:00 1772, The Houses of Parliament
00:27:06 Robert Clive is fighting
00:27:10 He has laid the foundations of
00:27:13 and in the process made himself
00:27:17 Now he stands accused of
00:27:22 In the House of Commons
00:27:27 Gentlemen, a great prince was
00:27:33 an opulent city lay at my mercy;
00:27:36 its richest bankers bid against
00:27:41 I walked through vaults which were
00:27:45 piled on either hand
00:27:49 Mr. Chairman, at this moment I stand
00:27:58 Robert Clive will not be bowed.
00:28:01 His life is ending as it began
00:28:15 Born in 1725 in Shropshire
00:28:19 he was given up by his mother as
00:28:26 It happened at the insistence
00:28:29 an ineffectual lawyer from
00:28:33 who barely earned enough to keep
00:28:39 Rejected by his family
00:28:42 young Robert was soon running wild
00:28:49 He pioneered the business methods,
00:28:51 which would make him his later fortune
00:28:55 It was a protection racket
00:29:00 the boys would agree
00:29:05 Robert was adventurous,
00:29:10 He was an average student
00:29:11 and much more interested in
00:29:16 He climbed the church tower
00:29:19 and hung over the side
00:29:26 Robert grew up craving excitement,
00:29:29 but wanted acceptance
00:29:35 When he was 17,
00:29:36 a job as a clerk in the East India
00:29:41 money and a chance
00:29:45 Clive set his sights on India.
00:29:55 On the first of June 1744,
00:29:58 a cutter deposited Robert in a
00:30:08 Splashing ashore,
00:30:18 The Madras, Robert discovered,
00:30:21 of Indian, Southeast Asian
00:30:31 Here British, French and Dutch
00:30:36 to take advantage of the
00:30:39 in cloth, spices and opium.
00:30:45 In those days the young men who
00:30:49 were a little bit like the Eurobond
00:30:52 If you wanted to make a pile...
00:30:54 I mean there was a great risk
00:30:56 because you could go out to India and
00:30:59 But there was a chance also,
00:31:03 that you might make a whole
00:31:06 These early European colonialists
00:31:11 much more completely than
00:31:14 Many traders went native, and began
00:31:21 So they lived as Indians,
00:31:26 certainly adopted Indian manners
00:31:29 Many of them had harems.
00:31:31 As far as the Indian princes
00:31:34 they looked upon the company as
00:31:37 not as a foreigner necessarily
00:31:43 This was global capitalism
00:31:46 Clive and his friends were pioneers
00:31:49 that would soon dominate
00:31:55 But in 1745 Robert was
00:31:58 the life of a clerk in India
00:32:02 His salary was five pounds a year.
00:32:08 He soon felt desperately lonely and
00:32:15 His unhappiness came to a head when
00:32:21 Every European in Madras received
00:32:23 a letter or package from home
00:32:30 He was devastated.
00:32:32 Clive had a mercurial temperament.
00:32:36 This apparent humiliation
00:32:39 plunged him into the depths
00:32:47 Feeling utterly alone and cast off,
00:32:50 he put a gun to his head
00:32:56 Twice it failed to go off.
00:32:59 "Fate it seems must be reserving me
00:33:03 he would later tell a friend.
00:33:06 In fact, fate had extraordinary
00:33:11 wild swings of fortune, dizzying
00:33:17 Throughout his life periods
00:33:19 feverish activity would alternate
00:33:24 He would probably be diagnosed today
00:33:30 Clive soon discovered that
00:33:34 and he would use it as a medicine
00:33:38 Clive got used to loneliness.
00:33:54 The British lived in
00:33:57 You had the fort and then you had
00:33:59 They called it Blacktown,
00:34:08 The British seldom ventured into
00:34:10 except when they wanted to go
00:34:14 And Clive, certainly it was known
00:34:16 he had this sort of
00:34:23 Perhaps the one consolation for Clive
00:34:26 colonialists was that,
00:34:28 being so far from home, they could do
00:34:34 As a proverb of the time said:
00:34:36 "there are no sins south of
00:34:47 As Europeans woke up to the phenomenal
00:34:51 the competition for trade intensified.
00:34:57 Finally in 1746,
00:34:59 open war broke out between the
00:35:03 each side supported by
00:35:09 It was just the push Clive needed.
00:35:12 He was galvanized by new energy
00:35:18 For the next five years of
00:35:21 Clive fought in the militia of
00:35:25 where his raw aggression
00:35:28 promotions and success
00:35:33 In return for his victories against
00:35:36 culminating in the battle of Arcot,
00:35:38 he was rewarded with an appointment
00:35:40 as quartermaster of the company
00:35:44 He would find a way to make a profit
00:35:51 Now, it doesn't sound very grand,
00:35:53 but the great thing
00:35:55 You were given a great wad of money
00:35:57 and told to go feed your troops.
00:35:59 And if you could feed your troops
00:36:00 on half the amount of money
00:36:03 then you were allowed
00:36:06 By the time Clive was 27,
00:36:09 he had made himself a small fortune
00:36:14 Clive was also being credited with
00:36:16 against the French.
00:36:19 News of his success astonished
00:36:24 His father is said to have remarked:
00:36:26 "Perhaps Robert is not such a booby
00:36:32 Finally Clive was getting
00:36:37 Now he hungered for it
00:36:44 One event would set the seal
00:36:48 but that of the British as well.
00:36:54 In 1756, the Mughal Nawab,
00:36:59 seized the British East India
00:37:07 The British in India were furious.
00:37:10 Their outrage soared
00:37:13 about the Mughals' treatment
00:37:20 When he seized the fort,
00:37:22 Siraj had ordered the imprisonment
00:37:27 The Indians locked their
00:37:30 designed by the British
00:37:33 It was tiny 18 by 14 feet
00:37:37 with only a couple of minuscule,
00:37:43 The night of June 20th,
00:37:48 When the door opened the next morning,
00:37:55 "The Black Hole of Calcutta"
00:37:58 and the incident sparked uproar.
00:38:04 It was just what Clive had been
00:38:07 Here was a chance to really
00:38:10 and make a name for himself.
00:38:14 He received command of
00:38:19 Clive and his troops hit Bengal
00:38:25 In 1757, he swept into Calcutta and
00:38:34 With promises of lucrative deals,
00:38:37 Clive then strong armed
00:38:39 into joining him in a
00:38:46 With typical guile,
00:38:48 Clive secured the allegiance of his
00:38:56 Finally, he marched into Bengal
00:38:59 with 800 European troops and
00:39:06 It was an impressive force
00:39:07 but nothing compared to what Siraj
00:39:14 50,000 well armed men backed up
00:39:17 and 50 pieces of state of the art
00:39:23 The two armies met near a town
00:39:33 The Nawab's superiority
00:39:38 but Clive knew that discipline,
00:39:44 The Europeans had already
00:39:47 like a bureaucratic
00:39:50 in the organization of their armies.
00:39:53 Everyone is trained to act in unison
00:40:00 which matters but the discipline
00:40:04 and quick succession to anybody who
00:40:09 exactly as one faceless bureaucrat
00:40:13 Clive was outnumbered enormously,
00:40:16 but he could use his resources
00:40:26 Faced by the disciplined phalanxes
00:40:29 the Mughal army fell apart.
00:40:38 Clive's triumph at Plassey
00:40:44 Although the British empire in India
00:40:45 would not be formally declared
00:40:49 India now belonged to the
00:40:55 Clive became known as the Master of
00:40:59 in turning his position into an
00:41:04 He had learned the technique years
00:41:13 Indian merchants were prepared
00:41:15 to ensure their continued good
00:41:20 On the same principle,
00:41:22 the Prince of Bengal now paid Clive
00:41:28 On top of this Clive was collecting
00:41:33 Within the space of two years
00:41:44 But with the action over,
00:41:46 it was not long before Clive slumped
00:41:51 accompanied now by agonizing pains in
00:41:59 In 1760 he returned to England
00:42:02 as Clive of India a very rich,
00:42:17 When Clive returned to London,
00:42:19 one of the only things that could
00:42:22 was the prospect of
00:42:27 He now had wealth, recognition,
00:42:31 the only thing he didn't have was
00:42:37 He decided he would buy his way
00:42:42 He hungrily set out to amass property
00:42:50 He remodeled the family home
00:42:54 a luxurious town house in
00:42:57 two more estates in England
00:43:04 He engineered himself a seat in
00:43:09 The power and reach of
00:43:13 but not limitless.
00:43:15 The one thing Robert Clive wanted
00:43:18 to be accepted by the establishment
00:43:21 and for people to consider him
00:43:25 He did flash his money around.
00:43:27 And sadly, people considered him
00:43:32 They didn't like this chap coming
00:43:35 and buying all these estates
00:43:38 you know, sort of buying his own
00:43:44 Clive soon found himself mired
00:43:46 in the intricacies of the
00:43:50 Try as he might, spend as he might,
00:43:52 the inner circles of the aristocracy
00:43:58 His rough manners only made things
00:44:02 They called him a 'nabob',
00:44:04 English slang based on the Hindi
00:44:09 The nabob is a pejorative
00:44:12 who has given up to bad stomach,
00:44:16 bad temper as a result of
00:44:20 And usually plundered India
00:44:23 They're something like robber barons
00:44:26 And their idea was to
00:44:29 establish themselves in England
00:44:32 And try to make a political
00:44:35 Now in England they were looked upon
00:44:40 and Clive was a classic example
00:44:44 The English aristocracy closed
00:44:49 But Clive was not to be put off.
00:44:52 Still intent on his social climb,
00:44:59 To enhance his reputation, he agreed
00:45:05 No longer just the businessman,
00:45:10 In 1765,
00:45:14 the 40 year old Clive returned
00:45:16 as governor of the
00:45:20 He now cast himself as a high minded
00:45:27 Clive's mission was to clean up the
00:45:31 They certainly needed it.
00:45:37 In the eight years since
00:45:40 profiteering had run wild in Bengal.
00:45:44 The British had achieved an effective
00:45:49 British merchants and soldiers
00:45:51 and extorted money from
00:45:54 just as Clive himself had once done.
00:46:00 Resentment was seething.
00:46:06 Clive countered the growing unrest
00:46:11 for all the practices
00:46:15 The confusion we behold,
00:46:19 Rapacity and luxury;
00:46:22 the unreasonable desire of many
00:46:27 what only a few can
00:46:33 With almost biblical fervor,
00:46:34 Clive launched reforms outlawing
00:46:41 In a whirlwind 20 months
00:46:43 Clive totally revamped the
00:46:48 By the end of it he was drained.
00:46:52 And it was now that disaster struck.
00:47:01 In 1769 the monsoon rains
00:47:07 And in 1770 famine set in.
00:47:11 Hundreds of thousands died
00:47:19 Share prices for the East India
00:47:24 By 1772 the Company's credit
00:47:30 Meanwhile stories were
00:47:32 English merchants were hoarding rice
00:47:37 There was a public outcry
00:47:40 People looked for a scapegoat.
00:47:43 Fingers pointed at Clive.
00:47:48 It was a bitter irony.
00:47:51 Only as Clive was at last making
00:47:55 to clear up the morass of greed
00:47:58 was he finally accused of being
00:48:02 A parliamentary committee was formed
00:48:06 and Clive's role in it.
00:48:09 The accusation?
00:48:10 Extortion and profiteering in India.
00:48:14 As usual, energized by the prospect
00:48:18 Clive rose magnificently to his own
00:48:22 And it was now he made his
00:48:25 given the opportunities for
00:48:28 he was astonished at his moderation.
00:48:33 Clive was cleared but there was
00:48:38 He had been stung by the accusations.
00:48:42 He had effectively given India
00:48:45 Now he was furiously bitter at what
00:48:50 He was once again being rejected.
00:48:54 Predictably, he plunged back
00:48:58 His agonizing stomach pains returned,
00:49:04 Even opium did little
00:49:08 I have a disease
00:49:13 which the doctors tell me
00:49:18 He drifted from one mansion
00:49:21 barely unpacking before
00:49:27 Little did he know, many in the
00:49:31 been deeply impressed with his
00:49:35 They were on the verge of giving him
00:49:38 that was in chaos and on the verge of
00:49:45 Unaware of the honor
00:49:48 Clive was consumed by
00:49:58 On the 22nd of November, 1774,
00:50:02 as his family prepared to leave the
00:50:04 at Berkeley square for Bath
00:50:11 When they rushed in,
00:50:15 Robert Clive, still only 49 years old,
00:50:24 Clive's death created a huge scandal,
00:50:27 there was a sort of big hush up
00:50:28 and a lot of sort of muted whispering
00:50:32 as to whether he had killed himself.
00:50:34 It sounds like he slit his throat
00:50:40 Suicide was a sin.
00:50:43 In grief and shame, Clive's family
00:50:48 and buried him without a headstone
00:50:52 outside Market Drayton, the town
00:51:11 After Clive's death,
00:51:13 the British grip on America loosened
00:51:20 The profits to be earned there
00:51:27 A hundred years later, the Kohinoor,
00:51:31 the fabulous diamond Babur had dismissed
00:51:34 compared to the life of his son,
00:51:48 Krishna's gift had been a test of
00:51:54 What would they do with
00:51:58 Would they behave like beasts