I am currently writing this from Kumarakom, Kerala, not far from where the history of modern India took a sharp turn over 500 years ago.
Growing up in India, our history lessons were dominated by the British Raj. We learned about the East India Company and the railways, but the Portuguese often felt like a footnote—the people who brought us chilies and potatoes. But standing here, looking at the waterways that once welcomed the world, I realize that Kochi was actually the "Ground Zero" of European colonization.
It brings a difficult truth to light: The legendary Indian hospitality—that ingrained instinct to welcome the guest as a god (Atithi Devo Bhava)—eventually backfired.
The Shift from Trade to Conquest
Trade itself was nothing new here. Long before Europe looked East, Arab merchants and Indian ships were crossing oceans in a peaceful exchange. Local rulers gave land for mosques and churches; differences were tolerated for the sake of commerce. It was a calm era of globalization.
That changed when the Europeans arrived—specifically the Portuguese. Unlike the traders before them, they didn't just want to participate in the market; they wanted to own it.
I’ve been watching the TV series Shōgun recently, and it was fascinating to connect the dots. The "Black Ships" and Jesuit priests you see arriving in Japan in that show? They didn't just sail from Europe. They were coming from the network the Portuguese established right here in India.
Strategy Disguised as Romance
The Portuguese realized early on that they couldn't hold a global empire with a tiny population. Their solution was the Casados policy.
Governor Afonso de Albuquerque encouraged his soldiers to marry local women. It wasn't a romance; it was an HR strategy. They needed a population that was loyal to the soil but aligned with the crown and the church. By marrying locals and converting them, they created a permanent buffer class—the Luso-Indians—ensuring their foothold remained long after the ships left.
The Leadership Lesson: Trust but Verify
Why did this happen in Kochi and not Calicut? Disunity.
The colonization of India was enabled because the Raja of Kochi was a rival of the Zamorin of Calicut. The Portuguese exploited this rift, offering "protection" in exchange for a fort. That fort—Fort Manuel, built in 1503—was the first European stronghold on Indian soil.
There is a lesson here for modern leadership and alliances.
We often rush into partnerships because they solve an immediate problem (like a rival competitor). But when we invite a powerful entity into our ecosystem without boundaries, we risk losing sovereignty over our own operations.
My Take
Kerala is still welcoming today. It is a beautiful trait. But looking back at 1503, the lesson is clear: Trust but verify.
Vasco da Gama and those who followed didn't come with the peaceful intentions of the travelers before them. They came with a roadmap for dominance. In business, as in history, it is vital to understand the intent of those we welcome through our doors.
What do you think? Is there a time in your career where "welcoming" a partner turned into a takeover? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
Historical Context Sources: Kerala Tourism / World History Encyclopedia.
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