"Fort St George: How Weavers Shaped the Rise of the East India Company"
While Surat was the East India Company’s first trading post established in 1612, it functioned mainly as a rented warehouse operating under strict Mughal authority. The British possessed little military or political influence there and remained largely dependent on local rulers and existing trading systems. The establishment of Fort St. George at Madras in 1639 marked a decisive turning point in the history of the East India Company. Unlike Surat, Madras provided the Company with a more secure and independent base on the Coromandel Coast, gradually transforming the British from mere traders into emerging political rulers. This transformation was deeply connected to the thriving textile economy of South India, and the contribution of weaving communities such as the Devangas, Padmasalis, Kaikolars, and others. The Coromandel Coast was internationally renowned for its cotton fabrics, dyed cloth, muslin, and calicoes, which were in high demand across Europe and Asia. Weavers be...