History of Opium

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During the early 18th century, the Portuguese discovered that selling opium to China by importing it from India was very profitable. By the end of the century, the British also got into this business. The main reason was their chronic trade imbalance with China. There was a huge demand for Chinese products in Western countries but Britishers had to pay in silver and gold. With opium trade, Chinese opium addicts created a steady demand which filled the British treasury with silver and gold which was then used by Britishers to balance their trade.

The British, by virtue of their East India Company, made it illegal for farmers to cultivate opium without a license from the company. This led to cultivation on private lands and even by government owned farms.

India is one of the first countries in the world where cultivating and selling opium was legal as well as being one of the major producers of raw opium.

The British had always found it profitable selling not only Indian-cultivated opium but also Indian-grown textiles in England, so they were keen on keeping those trades going as well as profiting from them.

India was a major producer of opium and a significant exporter in the 1800s. British companies were in charge of growing the poppies in India and exporting them to China, which was facing a shortage due to war.

In 1856, British-owned Indian opium trade led to the Second Opium War with China. In 1857, when Indians revolted against these policies, British troops seized Delhi and looted the city's treasury.