The East India Company and the Bengal Nawabs

The East India Company and the Bengal Nawabs

Siraj ud Daula (1756-57)

1-He seiged the English factory at Kasimbazar. On 20th June 1756, Fort William surrendered but Robert Clive recovered Calcutta.

2-On 2nd January 1757, Treaty of Alinagar was signed, whereby Siraj conceded practically all the

demands.

3-British then captured Chandernagore. the French settlement, on March1757.

4- Battle of Plassey was fought on 23 June 1757.

Owing to the conspiracy. the Nawab was defeated.

The following betrayed the Nawab:

1-Mir jafar—Mir Bakshi

2-Manikchand—Officer in charge of Calcutta

3-Aminchand—Rich Sikh merchant

4-Jagat Seth—Biggest banker of Bengal.

5-Khadim Khan —Commanded a large number of Nawab’s Troops.

Mir Jafar (1757-60)

1-The Company was granted undisputed right to free trade in Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. It received the Zamindari of 24 Parganas.

2-Mir Jafar, however, fell into arrears and was forced to abdicate in favour of his son-in-law Mir Qasim.

Mir Qasim (1760-64)

1-Mir Qasim ceded Burdwan, Midnapore and Chittagong. He shifted his capital to from Mursidabad to Monghyr.

2-Mir Qasim soon revoked as he was angry with the British for misusing the dastaks (free duty passes).

3-However, having been defeated by the British, he fled to Awadh, where he formed a confederacy with Shuja-ud-daulah and Shah. Alain.

4-Battle of Buxar (1764) Shuja-ud-daulah. Shah Alam and Mir Qasim were defeated by Munro.

5-Mir Jafar (1763) was again placed on the throne.

Nizam-ud-Daulah(l 765- 72)

1-On Mir Jafar’s death, his son Nizam-ud-daulah was placed on the throne and signed a treaty on 20th February. 1765 by which the Nawab was in disband most of his army and to administer Bengal through a Deputy Subahdar nominated by the company.

2-Clive concluded two separate treaties of Allahabad with Shuja ud daula and Shah Alam II.

3-Dual system of government started in Bengal. The company acquired both Diwani and Nizamat lights from Najm-ud- Daula (1765-66). the new nawab of Bengal.

4- But the company did not take over direct administration and revenue collection.

5- Warren Hastings ended the Dual system of govt in 1772.