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Achintya TCA

University of Virginia, History, Graduate Student

University of Delhi, Department of History, Graduate Student

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Student of Modern Indian History, specializing in Legislative, Legal and Administrative histories. Also interested in mythological studies, ancient political and world history, and military histories
Phone: 9810672325

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The University of Texas at Austin

Harvard University

Alejandra B Osorio

Wellesley College

Shaun Gallagher

University of Memphis

Pennsylvania State University

Armando Marques-Guedes

UNL - New University of Lisbon

Lorenzo Verderame

Università degli Studi "La Sapienza" di Roma

University of Florida

University of Edinburgh

UFPB - Universidade Federal da Paraíba

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Papers by Achintya TCA

Practitioners of the Law: Company, Court, and Lawyers in Bengal, 1773-1781

The establishment of the Supreme Court of Judicature in Bengal in 1773 set the stage for a signif... more The establishment of the Supreme Court of Judicature in Bengal in 1773 set the stage for a significant jurisdictional clash with the East India Company's administration in the province, the court struggling to exert itself over the Company establishment and Company Courts. I argue that beyond the well told story of that institutional tussle, there is an underlying narrative of tension that needs rescuing. I demonstrate here that the creation of the Supreme Court brought with it a new set of legal actors to India. These actors, forming their own professional network, clashed with the pre-existing network of legal actors. The thesis therefore reframes the story of the Kassijora Case and the materials from the Touchet Report, from the perspective of legal professional networks. A tale of the struggle between the attorney culture aligned with the Company, and that of more newly arrived barristers, owing their allegiance more to the new Supreme Court and its judges.

Review: Empires: Towards a Global History, University of Delhi, December 2017

Conference Review: Empires—Towards a Global History Conference at the University of Delhi, Decemb... more

Studying Epics as Archives

Epics such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata have been the focus of historical and literary researc... more Epics such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata have been the focus of historical and literary research for many decades. Academic discourse however has tended to focus more on the physical evidence and the historicity of the literature. My paper outlines a slightly different method of analysis. The paper argues that looking at this Literature as a form of archive or a quasi-archive, and analysing the material contained within as it is, or by comparing across versions and variants, without attempting to get bogged down by questions of historicity of the specific events might open up interesting avenues of Historical Research. While this paper broadly looks at three methods of analysis, namely: locating historical narratives, comparing variations in the study cultures, and analysing differences within the text, it also encourages us to examine the vast body of Epic Literature through other approaches of textual and literary interpretation for the purposes of Historical Research.

India: Continuity and Change in the Twenty-first Century

Asian Affairs, 2021

1. Craig Jeffrey, Stuart Corbridge and John Harriss, India Today: Economy, Politics and Society. ... more 1. Craig Jeffrey, Stuart Corbridge and John Harriss, India Today: Economy, Politics and Society. Germany: Wiley, 2013. 2. Vaidya Nathan, ‘View: What’s wrong with Arvind Subramanian’s GDP math.’ The Economic Times, economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/indicators/viewwhats-wrong-with-arvindsubramanians-gdp-math/articleshow/69816811.cms. Anindita Sinharay, Kumar Ashish and T. C. A. Anant, ‘Decoding the GVA growth rate’, July 28, 2015. [Online]. https://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/ anindita-sinharay-ashish-kumar-t-c-a-anant-decoding-the-gva-growth-rate115072801461_1.html (accessed 14 February 2021).

On the Degradation of Mobility in Early Colonial India

This article considers the role of migration in the ability of communities to negotiate with the ... more This article considers the role of migration in the ability of
communities to negotiate with the state in early colonial India.
Both the causes and impact of the degradation of this ability
are examined; the argument builds on and expands on work by
Parthasarathi and others to make a case for exploring migration on
a pan-regional scale. The article explores the ideological rooting
and impact of the approach; it proposes that in conjunction with
traditional arguments relating to economics and society, military
recruitment played a key role in the evolution of policy aimed
at suppressing mobility among peasant and cultivator classes in
early colonial India.

Evolution of Migration Policy in Colonial India

The paper looks at the evolution of Migration Policy in the Indian Colonial State, across the adm... more The paper looks at the evolution of Migration Policy in the Indian Colonial State, across the administrative systems of both the English East India Company and the Raj. Beginning in the Mid 18th century and continuing upto the Inter-War years of the 20th century, dividing the period into four broad phases. It traces the changes in the Administration in India's views on Migration, grounded in the changing political contexts in India and in the wider world. Beginning with a hostility towards the movement of Indians, it examines how the Administrative system gradually overcame the inertia of this hostility to gradually become reconciled and later encouraging, although always seeking to retain strict control over the process. The paper also shows how the patterns of Labour Mobility were irrevocably changed by the gradual conquest of India and assimilation into the Imperial Framework which had its own unique demands and requirements, and thus contextualizes the evolution of Administrative policy in the face of these changing patterns

Evolution of Military Cultures in 18th Century India

Written in response to the question "Does Geoffrey Parker’s notion of the military revolution ade... more Written in response to the question "Does Geoffrey Parker’s notion of the military revolution adequately explain the transformation of the military culture in the period of Mughal crisis?" and part of the paper on "War, Society, and Politics c. 1700-1840", the paper examines the factors at play in the evolution of military cultures in India and the question of whether the theory of Military Revolution is sufficient to understanding this process

On the Degradation of Mobility in Early Colonial India

This paper looks at the role of Migration in the negotiation ability of communities in Early Colo... more This paper looks at the role of Migration in the negotiation ability of communities in Early Colonial India. Both the causes and impact of the degradation of this ability is looked at, as the argument seeks to build on and expand the arguments on community mobility and prosperity pioneered by Prasannan Parthasarathi.

On the Colonization of the Mind in India

Written in response to the question “Write a critical note on the colonisation of the Indian mind... more

On Academic Writing

A small piece I decided to write in response to an excellent article by Siobhan Lyons that appear... more

Reading Epics as Archives for Historical Research

Bharatiya Prajna, Oct 23, 2016

Epics such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata have been the focus of historical and literary researc... more Epics such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata have been the focus of historical and literary research for many decades. Most academic discourse however has tended to focus more on the physical evidence and the historicity of the literature. My paper outlines a slightly different method of analysis. It is well known that epic literature such as the Mahabharata and Ramayana are entities which have undergone extensive change, interpretation and alteration over the centuries, and that a vast variety of versions of the same story exist over a wide geographic spread. The paper therefore argues that looking at this Literature as a form of archive or a quasi-archive, and analysing the material contained within as it is, or by comparing across versions and variants, without attempting to get bogged down by questions of historicity of the specific events might open up interesting avenues of Historical Research. If we accept the Mahabharata or Ramayana not as a single text, but as a corpus of literature, we could arguably date specific narratives, examine the individual motivations of authors in the time periods in which narratives are composed. We may also find meaning in the differences across different regional versions. Lastly, differences or seeming inconsistencies within a narrative might be analysed for meaning. While this paper has broadly looked at three methods of analysis, namely: locating historical narratives, comparing variations to study cultures, and analysing differences within the text, it also encourages us to study the vast body of Epic Literature through other approaches of textual and literary interpretation for the purposes of Historical Research.

Studying Liberalism: On Philosophers and Historians

In the context of the term paper on the Approaches to Global History course, this examines the di... more In the context of the term paper on the Approaches to Global History course, this examines the differentiation of what I consider the "Philosopher" and the "Historian" in the construction of academic argumentation on subjects such as Liberalism, Equality, Freedom, etc and the need for a student to understand the differences in methodological approaches.

The internal assessment project inculcated a set of questions that needed to be incorporated into the paper. Given below are the questions, which will thus give an insight into some of the specific arguments contained within the paper
Questions for Reflection

Why did Acton said that the “ancients understood the regulation of power better than the regulation of liberty”?

Why did Constant say that “social power injured individual independence in every possible war”?

According to Hayek, how did the empirical English tradition of liberty differ from the rationalistic French idea of liberty?

Do you agree with Bayly’s argument that there is “nothing … in the ideological inheritance of Asians that prohibits the acceptance of personal autonomy as a core value”?

The Influence of Ancient Rome on the French Revolution and its potential for class analysis

Drafts by Achintya TCA

The Mongols in Sources

A short look at the descriptions of the Mongols under the Great Khagans in contemporary and near-... more

Other by Achintya TCA

Examining the Relationship Between Fascism/Nazism and Capitalism

Response to a question set as an assignment in the class on Nazism and Fascism at Delhi University

Practitioners of the Law: Company, Court, and Lawyers in Bengal, 1773-1781

The establishment of the Supreme Court of Judicature in Bengal in 1773 set the stage for a signif... more The establishment of the Supreme Court of Judicature in Bengal in 1773 set the stage for a significant jurisdictional clash with the East India Company's administration in the province, the court struggling to exert itself over the Company establishment and Company Courts. I argue that beyond the well told story of that institutional tussle, there is an underlying narrative of tension that needs rescuing. I demonstrate here that the creation of the Supreme Court brought with it a new set of legal actors to India. These actors, forming their own professional network, clashed with the pre-existing network of legal actors. The thesis therefore reframes the story of the Kassijora Case and the materials from the Touchet Report, from the perspective of legal professional networks. A tale of the struggle between the attorney culture aligned with the Company, and that of more newly arrived barristers, owing their allegiance more to the new Supreme Court and its judges.

Review: Empires: Towards a Global History, University of Delhi, December 2017

Conference Review: Empires—Towards a Global History Conference at the University of Delhi, Decemb... more

Studying Epics as Archives

Epics such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata have been the focus of historical and literary researc... more Epics such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata have been the focus of historical and literary research for many decades. Academic discourse however has tended to focus more on the physical evidence and the historicity of the literature. My paper outlines a slightly different method of analysis. The paper argues that looking at this Literature as a form of archive or a quasi-archive, and analysing the material contained within as it is, or by comparing across versions and variants, without attempting to get bogged down by questions of historicity of the specific events might open up interesting avenues of Historical Research. While this paper broadly looks at three methods of analysis, namely: locating historical narratives, comparing variations in the study cultures, and analysing differences within the text, it also encourages us to examine the vast body of Epic Literature through other approaches of textual and literary interpretation for the purposes of Historical Research.

India: Continuity and Change in the Twenty-first Century

Asian Affairs, 2021

1. Craig Jeffrey, Stuart Corbridge and John Harriss, India Today: Economy, Politics and Society. ... more 1. Craig Jeffrey, Stuart Corbridge and John Harriss, India Today: Economy, Politics and Society. Germany: Wiley, 2013. 2. Vaidya Nathan, ‘View: What’s wrong with Arvind Subramanian’s GDP math.’ The Economic Times, economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/indicators/viewwhats-wrong-with-arvindsubramanians-gdp-math/articleshow/69816811.cms. Anindita Sinharay, Kumar Ashish and T. C. A. Anant, ‘Decoding the GVA growth rate’, July 28, 2015. [Online]. https://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/ anindita-sinharay-ashish-kumar-t-c-a-anant-decoding-the-gva-growth-rate115072801461_1.html (accessed 14 February 2021).

On the Degradation of Mobility in Early Colonial India

This article considers the role of migration in the ability of communities to negotiate with the ... more This article considers the role of migration in the ability of
communities to negotiate with the state in early colonial India.
Both the causes and impact of the degradation of this ability
are examined; the argument builds on and expands on work by
Parthasarathi and others to make a case for exploring migration on
a pan-regional scale. The article explores the ideological rooting
and impact of the approach; it proposes that in conjunction with
traditional arguments relating to economics and society, military
recruitment played a key role in the evolution of policy aimed
at suppressing mobility among peasant and cultivator classes in
early colonial India.

Evolution of Migration Policy in Colonial India

The paper looks at the evolution of Migration Policy in the Indian Colonial State, across the adm... more The paper looks at the evolution of Migration Policy in the Indian Colonial State, across the administrative systems of both the English East India Company and the Raj. Beginning in the Mid 18th century and continuing upto the Inter-War years of the 20th century, dividing the period into four broad phases. It traces the changes in the Administration in India's views on Migration, grounded in the changing political contexts in India and in the wider world. Beginning with a hostility towards the movement of Indians, it examines how the Administrative system gradually overcame the inertia of this hostility to gradually become reconciled and later encouraging, although always seeking to retain strict control over the process. The paper also shows how the patterns of Labour Mobility were irrevocably changed by the gradual conquest of India and assimilation into the Imperial Framework which had its own unique demands and requirements, and thus contextualizes the evolution of Administrative policy in the face of these changing patterns

Evolution of Military Cultures in 18th Century India

Written in response to the question "Does Geoffrey Parker’s notion of the military revolution ade... more Written in response to the question "Does Geoffrey Parker’s notion of the military revolution adequately explain the transformation of the military culture in the period of Mughal crisis?" and part of the paper on "War, Society, and Politics c. 1700-1840", the paper examines the factors at play in the evolution of military cultures in India and the question of whether the theory of Military Revolution is sufficient to understanding this process

On the Degradation of Mobility in Early Colonial India

This paper looks at the role of Migration in the negotiation ability of communities in Early Colo... more This paper looks at the role of Migration in the negotiation ability of communities in Early Colonial India. Both the causes and impact of the degradation of this ability is looked at, as the argument seeks to build on and expand the arguments on community mobility and prosperity pioneered by Prasannan Parthasarathi.

On the Colonization of the Mind in India

Written in response to the question “Write a critical note on the colonisation of the Indian mind... more

On Academic Writing

A small piece I decided to write in response to an excellent article by Siobhan Lyons that appear... more

Reading Epics as Archives for Historical Research

Bharatiya Prajna, Oct 23, 2016

Epics such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata have been the focus of historical and literary researc... more Epics such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata have been the focus of historical and literary research for many decades. Most academic discourse however has tended to focus more on the physical evidence and the historicity of the literature. My paper outlines a slightly different method of analysis. It is well known that epic literature such as the Mahabharata and Ramayana are entities which have undergone extensive change, interpretation and alteration over the centuries, and that a vast variety of versions of the same story exist over a wide geographic spread. The paper therefore argues that looking at this Literature as a form of archive or a quasi-archive, and analysing the material contained within as it is, or by comparing across versions and variants, without attempting to get bogged down by questions of historicity of the specific events might open up interesting avenues of Historical Research. If we accept the Mahabharata or Ramayana not as a single text, but as a corpus of literature, we could arguably date specific narratives, examine the individual motivations of authors in the time periods in which narratives are composed. We may also find meaning in the differences across different regional versions. Lastly, differences or seeming inconsistencies within a narrative might be analysed for meaning. While this paper has broadly looked at three methods of analysis, namely: locating historical narratives, comparing variations to study cultures, and analysing differences within the text, it also encourages us to study the vast body of Epic Literature through other approaches of textual and literary interpretation for the purposes of Historical Research.

Studying Liberalism: On Philosophers and Historians

In the context of the term paper on the Approaches to Global History course, this examines the di... more In the context of the term paper on the Approaches to Global History course, this examines the differentiation of what I consider the "Philosopher" and the "Historian" in the construction of academic argumentation on subjects such as Liberalism, Equality, Freedom, etc and the need for a student to understand the differences in methodological approaches.

The internal assessment project inculcated a set of questions that needed to be incorporated into the paper. Given below are the questions, which will thus give an insight into some of the specific arguments contained within the paper
Questions for Reflection

Why did Acton said that the “ancients understood the regulation of power better than the regulation of liberty”?

Why did Constant say that “social power injured individual independence in every possible war”?

According to Hayek, how did the empirical English tradition of liberty differ from the rationalistic French idea of liberty?

Do you agree with Bayly’s argument that there is “nothing … in the ideological inheritance of Asians that prohibits the acceptance of personal autonomy as a core value”?

The Influence of Ancient Rome on the French Revolution and its potential for class analysis

The Mongols in Sources

A short look at the descriptions of the Mongols under the Great Khagans in contemporary and near-... more

Examining the Relationship Between Fascism/Nazism and Capitalism

Response to a question set as an assignment in the class on Nazism and Fascism at Delhi University