The Indie Writers (Team Entity)

Thirty years after the formation of the British East India Company and the setting-up of the initial trading outposts, a young warrior-king was born, in Shivneri Fort, in the Pune district of the western Indian state of Maharashtra. His name was Sivaji Bhosale and his birth heralded a new chapter in Indian history.   Shivaji in the early years was active in the Deccan Plateau, which at that time was divided between three different Sultanates, and after his initial training, the young Shivaji was an astute learner, and even at an early age he had an uncanny ability to come to terms with the on-going three-way power struggle in the Deccan Plateau, he aligned himself with the Sultan of Bijapur under whose auspice he was formally trained and educated. He was first sent to Pune and from there he was transferred to Bangalore. In 1645, at the tender age of 15, Shivaji gained control of Torna Fort after bribing its commander, and started launching raids into neighboring territories. He w

In 1608, 8 years after the formation of the British East India Company, the first British ships arrived in the port city of Surat in the western Indian state of Gujarat. The initial reception was somewhat cold and in 1611, the company sought the help of King James I who’d assumed the throne following the death of his predecessor Elizabeth I, and King James would send William Hawkins the commander of the Hector to meet with Jahangir to obtain permission to trade but nothing would pan out. The East India Company however, having invested a substantial amount in the venture, was not about to give up, and in 1615, King James sent Sir Thomas Roe, an ambassador, to negotiate on behalf of the East India Company. The negotiations met with some measure of success and the company was allowed to set up factories in India, and Surat became the first British settlement in India. Ironically, the first goods that were transported from the factories in Surat were not spices as many would have expe

The British East India Company was created in 1600 to secure the lucrative South Asian spice market and to give British businessmen access to the market. At the time it was created, there were five other European nations that were seeking to establish themselves in South Asia; Spain, Portugal, France, the Netherlands and Denmark. The company was established by royal charter on the 31st of December 1600 and it would continue to operate until the 1st of June 1874, and it would not only allow Britain to gain access to the lucrative spice markets in India but would also pave the way for the colonization of India. British businessmen fearing that their European rivals would gain the advantage approached Queen Elizabeth I to grant them a royal charter that would allow them to travel to the subcontinent and establish trading outposts there that would enable them to purchase goods from the subcontinent, and they were prepared to invest a sizable sum to finance the venture. The charter

Samoa is a group of islands in the South Pacific that comprises of 19 islands some 3,916 km northeast of Brisbane, Australia, with a total population of approximately 203,744 inhabitants. The islands cover an area of 2,831 sq. km, of which 2,821 sq. km or 99.65% is land while the remaining 10 sq. km or 0.35% is water, averaging 72 persons per sq. km. Of the total land available 12.4% or 351 sq. km is used for agriculture. Almost 60.4% of the total land available or 1,710 sq. km is covered with forests. The nation’s total GDP is valued at 841 million. The services sector is the nation’s largest GDP contributor accounting for 66% of total GDP or 555.06 million. The services sector is followed by the industrial sector which accounts for 23.6% or 198.48 million of total GDP and agriculture which accounts for 10.4% or 87.46 million of total GDP. The nation’s total labor force is estimated at 50,700 or 24.88% of the total population. Of the total labor force available 65% or 32,955 are empl

Tahiti or French Polynesia is an archipelago in the South Pacific that comprises of 118 islands some 5,955 km east of Brisbane, Australia, with a total population of approximately 295,121 inhabitants. The nation covers an area of 4,167 sq. km, of which 3,287 sq. km or 78.88% is land while the remaining 340 sq. km or 8.16% is water, averaging 71 persons per sq. km. Of the total land available 12.5% or 521 sq. km is used for agriculture. Almost 43.7% of the total land available or 1,821 sq. km is covered with forests. The nation’s total GDP is valued at 4.795 billion. The services sector is the nation’s largest GDP contributor accounting for 84.5% of total GDP or 4.05 billion. The services sector is followed by the industrial sector which accounts for 13% or 0.62 billion of total GDP and agriculture which accounts for 2.5% or 0.12 billion of total GDP. The nation’s total labor force is estimated at 126,300 or 43% of the total population. Of the total labor force available 68% or 8

The Cook Islands are a group of islands in the South Pacific some 4,800 km east of Brisbane, Australia, with a total population of approximately 8,574 inhabitants. The islands cover an area of 236 sq. km, almost all of which is land, averaging 36 persons per sq. km.  The islands total GDP is valued at 299.9 million. The services sector is the islands largest GDP contributor accounting for 82.1% of total GDP or 246.22 million. The services sector is followed by the industrial sector which accounts for 12.7% or 38.09 million of total GDP and agriculture which accounts for 5.1% or 15.29 million of total GDP. The islands total labor force is estimated at 6,820 or 80% of the total population. Of the total labor force available 56% or 4,024 are employed in the services sector, 29% or 1,978 are employed in the agricultural sector and 15% or 1,023 are employed in the industrial sector.  The island-nation’s main industries include fishing, fruit processing, tourism, clothing, and ha

Tuvalu is an island-nation in the South Pacific some 3,441 km northeast of Brisbane, Australia, with a total population of approximately 11,342 inhabitants. The island covers an area of 26 sq. km almost all of which is land, averaging 436 persons per sq. km. Of the total land available 60% or 15.6 sq. km is used for agriculture. Almost 33.3% of the total land available or 8.66 sq. km is covered with forests. The island’s total GDP is valued at 40 million. The services sector is the island’s largest GDP contributor accounting for 70% of total GDP or 28 million. The services sector is followed by the agricultural sector which accounts for 24.5% or 9.8 million of total GDP and industry which accounts for 5.6% or 2.28 million of total GDP. The island’s total labor force is estimated at 3,615 or 32% of the total population.   Tuvalu’s main industry is fishing. The island’s main agricultural produce include coconuts; fish and fish based products. The nation’s primary exports are cop

Micronesia is a group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean some 3,887 km northwest of Brisbane, Australia, with a total population of approximately 102,436 inhabitants. The nation covers an area of 702 sq. km, almost all of which is water, averaging 146 persons per sq. km. Of the total land available 25.5% or 179.01 sq. km is used for agriculture. Almost 74.5% of the total land available or 522.99 sq. km is covered with forests. The islands total GDP is valued at 328 million. The services sector is the islands largest GDP contributor accounting for 54.8% of total GDP or 179.74 million. The services sector is followed by the agricultural sector which accounts for 26.3% or 86.26 million of total GDP and industry which accounts for 18.9% or 61.99 million of total GDP. The islands total labor force is estimated at 37,920 or 37% of the total population. Of the total labor force available 93.9% or 35,607 are employed in the services sector, 5.2% or 1,972 are employed in the indust

Papua New Guinea is a nation in the South Pacific that comprises of the eastern half of the island of New Guinea some 2,538 km northwest of Brisbane, Australia, with a total population of approximately 7,259,456 inhabitants. The nation covers an area of 462,840 sq. km, of which 452,860 sq. km or 97.84% is land while the remaining 9,980 sq. km or 2.16% is water, averaging 16 persons per sq. km. Of the total land available 0.7% or 3239.88 sq. km is arable. Almost 63.1% of the total land available or 292,052 sq. km is covered with forests. The nation’s total GDP is valued at 19.82 billion. The industrial sector is the nation’s largest GDP contributor accounting for 42.9% of total GDP or 8.50 billion. The industrial sector is followed by the services sector which accounts for 35% or 6.94 billion of total GDP and agriculture which accounts for 22.1% or 4.38 billion of total GDP. The nation’s total labor force is estimated at 3,681,000 or 50.71% of the total population. Of the total

Kiribati is an island nation located midway between the North Pacific and South Pacific Ocean comprising of 33 coral islands, divided into three major island groups, the Gilbert Islands, the Phoenix Islands, and the Line Islands some 4,585 km northeast of Brisbane, Australia, with a total population of approximately 111,796 inhabitants The nation covers an area of 811 sq. km, almost all of which is land, averaging 138 persons per sq. km.  Of the total land available 2.5% or 20 sq. km is arable. Almost 15% of the total land available or 121.65 sq. km is covered with forests. The nation’s total GDP is valued at 197 million. The services sector is the island nation’s largest GDP contributor accounting for 70% of total GDP or 37.9 million. The services sector is followed by agriculture which accounts for 23% or 45.31 million of total GDP and industry which accounts for 7% or 13.79 million of total GDP. The nation’s total labor force is estimated at 39,000 or 34.88% of the total po

New Caledonia is an island in the South Pacific located some 1,469 km east of Brisbane, Australia, with a total population of approximately 290,009 inhabitants. The island covers an area of 18,575 sq. km, of which 27,986 sq. km or 98.38% is land while the remaining 300 sq. km or 1.62% is water, averaging 16 persons per sq. km. Of the total land available 0.4% or 74.3 sq. km is arable. Almost 45.9% of the total land available or 8,523.93 sq. km is covered with forests. The island’s total GDP is valued at 9.77 billion. The services sector is the island’s largest GDP contributor accounting for 72.1% of total GDP or 737.97 billion. The services sector is followed by industry which accounts for 26.4% or 2.40 billion of total GDP and agriculture which accounts for 1.4% or 0.14 billion of total GDP. The island’s total labor force is estimated at 119,500 or 41.21% of the total population. Of the total labor force available 74.9% or 89,506 are employed in the services sector, 22.4% or 26

The Solomon Islands are a group of islands in the South Pacific located some 2,117 km northeast of Brisbane, Australia, with a total population of approximately 685,097 inhabitants. The islands cover an area of 28,896 sq. km, of which 27,986 sq. km or 96.85% is land while the remaining 910 sq. km or 3.15% is water, averaging 24 persons per sq. km. Of the total land available 0.7% or 202.27 sq. km is arable. Almost 78.9% of the total land available or 22,799 sq. km is covered with forests. The islands total GDP is valued at 1.298 billion. The services sector is the islands largest GDP contributor accounting for 58.1% of total GDP or 0.75 billion. The services sector is followed by agriculture which accounts for 34.3% or 0.45 billion of total GDP and industry which accounts for 7.6% or 0.10 billion of total GDP. The islands total labor force is estimated at 202,500 or 29.56% of the total population. Of the total labor force available 75% or 151,875 are employed in the agricultural

Vanuatu is a group of islands in the South Pacific located some 1,967 km northeast of Brisbane, Australia, with a total population of approximately 298,333 inhabitants. The islands cover an area of 12,189 sq. km, almost all of which is land, averaging 24 persons per sq. km. Of the total land available 1.6% or 192.02 sq. km is arable. Almost 49.3% of the total land available or 5,924 sq. km is covered with forests. The islands total GDP is valued at 870 million. The services sector is the islands largest GDP contributor accounting for 60.8% of total GDP or 528.96 million. The services sector is followed by agriculture which accounts for 27.3% or 237.51 million of total GDP and industry which accounts for 11.8% or 102.66 million of total GDP. The islands total labor force is estimated at 115,900 or 38.85% of the total population. Of the total labor force available 65% or 75,335 are employed in the agricultural sector, 30% or 34,770 are employed in the services sector and 5% or 5

The Marshall Islands are a group of 5 islands and 29 atolls located in the North Pacific Ocean between Hawaii and Australia with a total population of approximately 77,917 inhabitants. The islands cover an area of 181 sq. km, almost all of which is land, averaging some 430 persons per sq. km. Of the total land available 7.8% or 14.12 sq. km is arable. Almost 49.3% of the total land available or 89.23 sq. km is covered with forests. The islands total GDP is valued at 222 million. The services sector is the islands largest GDP contributor accounting for 85.7% of total GDP or 190.25 million. The services sector is followed by industry which accounts for 9.9% or 21.98 million of total GDP and agriculture which accounts for 4.4% or 9.77 million of total GDP. The islands total labor force is estimated at 10,670 or 13.69% of the total population. Of the total labor force available 72.7% or 7,757 are employed in the services sector, 16.3% or 1,739 are employed in the industrial secto

Nauru is an island in the South Pacific located south of the Marshall Islands with a total population of approximately 11,000 inhabitants. The island covers an area of approximately 21 sq. km, almost all of which is land. Of the total land available 4.41% or 20.4 sq. km is used for agriculture. The island’s total GDP is valued at $114 million. The services sector is the island’s largest GDP contributor accounting for 60.8% of total GDP or $69.31 million. The services sector is followed by industry which accounts for 33% or $37.62 million of total GDP, and agriculture which accounts for 6.1% or $6.95 million of total GDP. The island’s main industries include phosphate mining, offshore banking, and coconut products. The island’s main agricultural produce are coconuts.  The island’s primary exports are phosphates. Nauru’s major export partners are Nigeria 38.6%, Japan 16.6%, Australia 15.9%, South Korea 13.7%, and New Zealand 5.7%. Its major import partners include Austral