Introduction:
Friends, everyone must have heard the name of Great Wall of China, the world’s largest wall which is spread over a large area of 20000 km, but have you ever heard about the Great Wall of India which is spread over 3700 km? Yes, it was built during the British period.
Historical Context:
There was a wall which divided India into two parts, on one hand it was a means of earning money for the British and on the other hand, it was a wall of oppression for the Indians which made it difficult for them to live in their own country. The wall had separated the Indians from the salt of their own country.
Description of the Wall:
But what is the wall that is being mentioned here, where was it built and if it was so wide then where has it gone now and what is behind it? Today you will definitely get to know the answers to all these questions in this video. See, the Great Wall of India which has been talked about here is often known as The Great Hedge or the Indian Salt Hedge, which was built by the British during the 1840s. The purpose of making this hedge was to earn a lot of money by taxing salt.
Taxation of Salt:
When the British came to India, they started taxing many things like land and sugar, but these things were not available at that time. No one had it, so they thought that tax should be imposed on something which people all over India use every day. By imposing tax on such a thing, they were going to earn a lot. Now they started thinking about which such thing should be taxed. It is the thing which Indians use the most and while thinking about this, finally the British got the answer to this question and they started imposing tax on salt.
Impact of Taxation:
In fact, the rule of imposing tax on salt has been in practice in India for centuries, the Mughals. Even during the Empire, salt tax has been imposed in some parts of India, but hardly anyone has done it to the level that the British imposed this tax. The percentage of this tax is different for different areas of India. But this amount was so high everywhere that due to this the price of salt also started increasing and a basic necessity like salt became a luxury for Indians.
Construction of the Wall:
Now see, only rich people were able to afford this luxury, the rates of salt were so high. It had increased so much that people with low income had to use about 15 to 20 percent of their annual income to buy salt, so gradually many people stopped using it on a daily basis. It is said that salt Along with taste in food, it is also necessary to maintain good health, but due to not being able to afford it at that time, many people had to face problems due to lack of salt, including the poor and working class of India. Diarrhea attacks and heart diseases started becoming very common in the population.
Role of the British East India Company:
Lakhs of people lost their lives at that time but no one made any effort to find out the reason for their death. Now due to this reason people are not facing salt deficiency anxiety. The effects could not be known nor did they oppose the tax. Actually, this whole story started in 1759 when the British East India Company had captured Calcutta, at that time they came to know about making salt there and Salt was being transported far and wide. Taking advantage of this opportunity, he started imposing tax on the transportation of salt.
Expansion and Enforcement:
Gradually, he started controlling all the revenue coming from Bengal, Bihar and Odisha and the salt made there was sent to those warehouses. Shipping orders were passed which were under the control of the British. Shopkeepers could now buy salt only from those warehouses which were under the control of the British. Now all this was done by the Governor of the British East India Company, Robert Cliff, for his own benefit without informing the company. But when the company officials came to know about this, they snatched all the control from Robert’s hands and gave it to the company.
Creation of Physical Barriers:
The company now thought of a new way to earn money from salt trade. A rule was made that now brother The company will give salt factories on lease to the farmers and in return the farmers will have to pay them a fixed amount. This amount was decided through bidding. There was good profit in the salt business at that time, hence the farmers lease the factories at a good price. But the company started earning money through this. For some time, the company kept earning money from salt production in this way, but the company did not get as much profit as it had thought, so now it adopted the same method which Robert Cliff had earlier adopted i.e. transportation of salt.
Conclusion:
Now we will tell you in detail how the company imposed this tax, but before that watch an important information for you, this video has been collaborated with Arteria, a website where you will get more than one option to decorate your house. Hand made idols of a single design are available and that too at affordable prices. Yes, one of them is the Mighty Eagle which is a symbol of strength, courage and freedom. This eagle has been prepared for you with great detail and finishing. Loved the product. If yes, then you will get the link to buy it in the description box below and yes, you will also get Rs. 10 off on coupon code Mystica 10. Let’s come back to our story, in the year 1780, the East India Company handed over the entire business of salt to agents. The idea was to control this through people selling their salt at a fixed price to these agents who would then sell it in the market.
Aftermath and Legacy:
Initially the tax on salt was collected at the rate of ₹ per mount, which was later increased to ₹ 3.25 per mount. The rate of this tax was different for the states, in such a situation, the states which were paying less tax, bought the salt at a lower rate and started smuggling it to those states where due to the tax, the prices of salt were high, now they are so high. What else could the poor and middle class Indians want due to taxes, but when the British government came to know about this, they installed check points everywhere in Bengal to reduce smuggling and increase their profits.
Rediscovery and Documentation:
The idea of creating physical barriers everywhere was created from Indus Valley to Orissa, a hedge was created which divided India into two parts. Initially it was thought that this hedge would be created with small patches but then no one could stop the violations. For this, a hedge was made of thorns and bushes covering a large area of 00 km, but this temporary structure was damaged at many places either by animals or salt smugglers, so the British built this hedge. Thought of preparing a live hedge for the work which was named Bhai Indian Salt Hedge. It is called live hedge because it was made of plants which were growing.
Historical Accounts:
Initially the idea was to make this hedge like the Great Wall of China. It was thought that because at that time the British Government did not have much money to make it, hence this hedge was started to be prepared with the help of cactus and some other thorny plants. These plants would grow even in the company
Some questions and answers:
- Who built Great Wall of India?
The Great Wall of India, also known as The Great Hedge or the Indian Salt Hedge, was built during the British colonial period in the 1840s primarily for the purpose of imposing taxation on salt. - Which is the last wall of India?
The Great Wall of India, also referred to as The Great Hedge or the Indian Salt Hedge, is one of the notable historical walls in India. However, it was constructed during the British colonial era and is not considered the last wall of India. - Which is the second longest wall in the world?
The Kumbhalgarh Fort Wall in Rajasthan, India, is often cited as the second-longest continuous wall in the world, after the Great Wall of China. - What is the Great Wall of Kumbhalgarh?
The Great Wall of Kumbhalgarh is a massive fortification wall surrounding the Kumbhalgarh Fort in the state of Rajasthan, India. It is renowned for its length and historical significance. - Who discovered Great Wall?
The Great Wall of China was not so much “discovered” as it was constructed over centuries by various Chinese dynasties, primarily to protect against invasions from northern nomadic tribes. - Who physically built the Great Wall?
The Great Wall of China was constructed by millions of laborers, including soldiers, peasants, and convicts, who were conscripted or volunteered to work on its construction under the orders of the ruling dynasties. - Who is the longest wall in the world?
The Great Wall of China is widely recognized as the longest wall in the world, stretching approximately over 13,000 miles (21,000 kilometers). - Which fort is biggest in India?
The Kumbhalgarh Fort in Rajasthan, India, is renowned for having one of the largest and longest walls in the world, making it a significant historical and architectural landmark. - Is Great Wall of China bigger than India?
The Great Wall of China is not physically bigger than the entire country of India. However, it is longer than any individual wall or fortification within India. - What wall is a landmark?
The Great Wall of China is considered one of the most iconic and historically significant landmarks in the world, symbolizing China’s rich cultural heritage and its efforts to defend against invasions. - Why is Kumbhalgarh haunted?
Kumbhalgarh Fort is associated with various legends and stories, some of which attribute supernatural occurrences to its history. However, there is no conclusive evidence to support claims of the fort being haunted. - What is the strongest wall in the world?
The strength of a wall can be subjective and depends on various factors such as construction materials, design, and maintenance. However, the Great Wall of China is renowned for its formidable defense structures and historical significance. - Who damaged the Great Wall of China?
Over centuries, various factors including natural erosion, weathering, and human activities have contributed to the deterioration of sections of the Great Wall of China. Additionally, historical events such as wars and cultural revolutions also caused damage to parts of the wall. - Why is Great Wall famous?
The Great Wall of China is famous for its massive scale, historical significance, and architectural prowess. It symbolizes China’s enduring civilization and its efforts to defend against invasions throughout history. - Is the Great Wall ancient?
Yes, the construction of the Great Wall of China began over two millennia ago, during the Qin Dynasty (around 221 BC). Subsequent dynasties continued to build and reinforce the wall, making it one of the most iconic ancient structures in the world.
