The Beginnings of Indianisation, c. 1960–76

Abstract

After a decade of India’s political independence, and after a wide-ranging series of changes in Indian company law, the pressures upon the British merchant groups of Calcutta to seek closer links with Indian entrepreneurs were clearly intensifying. In many cases, it was not an unwelcome pressure, and was seen as a means for future survival, when most groups had experienced worrying fluctuations in performance and profitability since 1947. Those making a firm commitment to maintaining their commercial presence in the subcontinent already saw their future in terms of developing relationships with Indian businessmen, who could share capital-raising, management and profits.