Final Assignment

NABIL HUSSAIN
1632256630
Submitted To: Masood Imran Mannu, PhD (MdI1)
Course: HIS101.22
Submission Date: 2nd June, 2020
Q1. Illustrate the geo-political landscape of Samatata Region geological timeline to till
Mughal Period.
An ancient regional unit, in south-eastern Bengal, Samatata is known as a significant entity and
popular since the time of Samudragupta’s time. Samatata region is mentioned in the Allahabad
Prashasti, an inscription which serves as an epigraphic evidence from the time of Gupta
dynasty’s rule. It states that Samatata region was an eastern frontier region besides Davaka,
Nepala, Kamarupa and Karttpura. It is also mentioned in the Brihatsamhita (an encyclopedia
book writing during the 6th century AD, that both Samatata and Vanga are separate from each
other. According to a Chinese traveller’s words during the 7th century, he travelled to Saatata
after moving about 1200 or 1300 Li (chinese distance metics) towards southward from
Kamarupura (Eastern Assam) and that the country was more than 3000 Li in diameter, being on
the side of the seas and low and moist ground but rich land. He added that the capital of Samatata
was 20 li in circuit and was regularly cultivated and rich in crops.

There is more evidence regarding the geographic parametres of Samatata by I-tsing (an a 7th
century Chinese Buddhist pilgrim) who said that the Chinese priest (during second half of the 7th
century AD) discovered that Rajabhata of the Khadga dynasty ruled from the capital
(jayaskandhavara) of Karmanta-vasaka. Moreover, a copperplate of Shridharana was found at
Kailan about 8 km south-west of Cumilla town. The information from the copperplate says that
the Kind who served was Samatateshvara and their capital was Devaparvata, which was also the
capital of Devas, ruling during the 8th century AD. Samatata and Devaparvata are also found in
the copperplate of the Chandras, who ruled in the 8th century AD. The Mehar copperplate of
Damodaradeva during the13th century mentions that land surrounding Mehar, about 14.5 km
south-east of Cumilla is mentioned to be in the Samatata mandala.

Therefore based on many epigraphical records, the writings of the Chinese and archaeological
discoveries in the Lalmai-Mainamati region, it can be concluded with no doubt that the Samatata
regional unit was established of the trans-Meghna territories of the Cumilla-Noakhali plains and
the adjoining hilly Tripura, which is the Atabi-Khanda division of Samatata, in the east and the
Channel Islands in the south.

The Gupta Dynasty’s (507 B.C -8th century) member of Imperialist Guptas, Maharaja
Vainyagupta, has ruled over Samatata region. After Vainyagupta, Gopchandra, Dharmaditya and
Samchardeva has reigned over the Samata region druing the time 525 AD-575 A.D.

Evidence from two copper plates found at Ashrafpur (close to Dhaka), coins, and the Chinese
reports of Sheng-che (c 7th cent AD) suggests that the Khadga dynasty has ruled the Vanga and
Samatata region (mainly a large portion of Tripura) during 7th-8th century AD. The first rule of
the Khadna dynasty was Khadgodyama (c 625-640 AD) and then passed on to their predecessors
respectively Jatakhadga (c 640-658 AD), Devakhadga (c 658-673 AD) and his grandson
Rajabhata (c 673-690 AD). The Khadga’s were originally from Vanga but later on moved
towards Samatata.

The Chandra dynasty ruled in the parts of Samatata and Vanga during the period 875 to 1035
A.D. The first independent ruler of this dynasty was Trailokyachandra (c 900-930 AD), son of
Suvarnachandra. He reigned in Samatata region with Devaparvata as the centre of power and
part by part spread over Chandravipa and parts of Vanga, later on taking on the title of
Maharajadhiraja. Trailokyachandra (c 900-930 AD), son of Suvarnachandra, who was the first
independent ruler of the dynasty. He established their sovereign rule in Samatata area with
devaparvata as their centre of power and gradually spread it over chandradvipa and parts of
Vanga, and assumed the title of maharajadhiraja. Due to the Chandras, the Samatata region was
a centre of practicing Budhhism as they established many religious sites in the Mainamati region.
Moreover, four rulers of Deva dynasty who ruled over Samata region were: Shantideva,
Viradeva, Anandadeva and Bhavadeva. Samatata, current known as Cumilla, has played a big
part in the history of Bengal during the time period 4th to 13th century AD.
Q2. Interpret with examples the characteristics of the colonial period of Bengal.
Ans: The Colonial period carried on from 1757 to 1947. It is actually interesting that the East
India Company which was involved in trading and business with Bengal for about a century
since 1650 and sought for gaining wealth through trading and business in compliance with the
spirit of doing business for profit and finally made themselves to ruling the state of Bengal. It is
important to point out that the Colonial state built by the East India company is one of a kind in
the history of foreign places expansion. Many scholars say that the British Empire in India was
constructed with a preoccupied mind and that it was unconsciously planned by the traders who
were involved in building it. On the other hand, they were not in support of it and still
colonialism took place in this state. It is however correct that many company leaders and
governments have shown lack of support in establishing political power in the east. But, it is also
correct that the practical politics in the Bay of Bengal have helped construct the journey of the
company’s history in this area more forcefully than the adverse theories created in the Board
meeting at the centre. The annihilating initiatives by officers at the field like Robert Clive,
Warren Hastings, Lord Wellesley and Lord Dalhousie and other smaller authoritarian
practitioners had always made their invasions as they were already happening in the region,
which were accepted by the centre only.

The taking over of Bengal was not just as a aftermath of one battle of Palashi or Buxar. But
rather, it was a situation of unequal development spread over the century since more than a
century. For i.e, after the company established themselves in Hughli in 1651, its prime motive
was to ensure trade and commerce and establish optimum trade advantages in every situation.
However, arrogant and forceful policies were introduced during the second phase between 1756
and 1765. During the third phase between 1765 and 1784, they resorted to a strategy of partial
control of the country with the motive of sourcing its income for using this money to invest in
the company's business in the ‘East Indies’. The fourth and last phase, between 1784 and 1793
was pointed by the positive and severe initiatives towards making Bengal a sovereign colonial
state.
Trading and Trading advantages due to Nishan (trade law)
As they found sea-lanes to the eastern waters, it brought the western maritime forces head to
head with direct route of Bengal. It was generally a country who used to export since old times
but questionably, its export was due to cultural causes; carried out mainly by foreign people.
After stimulation from the Mughal government the Portuguese, the Dutch, the French, the
English and others came through seas in order to contribute to the Bengal export trade. They
competed against each other in pursuing Bengal goods to foreign markets for trade, in this case
the East India Company had an edge over others. The English didn’t have to resort to paying any
customer duties whereas others had to pay 2.5 percent customer duties for trade. They secured
Nishan(1651), a patent from the Bengal subahdar, prince Shuja which benefited the English to
trade in Bengal region by exempting them from paying any customer duties against an annual
tribute of Rs 3000 only. Such a privilege to the English led to major issues between the country
government and the company. One of them was for huge losses in revenue and another was due
to pressure from other competing companies, subahdars succeeding Shuja were not equally
favourably keen to the company. As there was a constant growth in English’s trade, the
government disposed to revert or change the nishan or patent. However, the company didn’t
agree to such an initiative by the government. This led to major conflict between the government
and the company. Such as the Anglo-Mughdal war of 1686-1690 resulted due to this cause.

The restoration of Trade rights and impacts of Calcutta Settlement

The peace agreement of 1690 recognised the nishan of 1641. Restoring their trading rights and
also the base of the East India company’s Calcutta settlement. Sir Josiah Child, the founder of the
Calcutta settlement didn’t hide that fact the company would resort to force if need be in order to
safeguard its rights. The sales volume of the company rose by a large number after The Calcutta
settlement was established. The gain of Zamindari rights over three villages has led the company
to hold country power in 1698. During the same year, Calcutta was made into an autonomous
region under the company. For defensive purposes, the Fort William was built during the same
year. In 1700, Fort William was made a separate Presidency independent of Madras.

The resistance by Bengal leaders since the beginning of 18th century

The regionally powerful nawabi regime’s leaders such as the three great rulers of Bengal
Murshid Quli Khan (1701-1727), Shujauddin Khan (1727-1739) and Alivardi Khan (1740-1756)
held off the dominance and imperialism by the English East Indian Company from the beginning
of the 18th century. These rulers helped bring political stability and relative economic prosperity
in order to hold off the British’s power over Bengal. Murshid Quli Khan has neither accepted nor
discarded the company’s benefit of tax exemption in the country. It was observed that nearby
Chowkis (toll stations) of the nawab repeatedly disregarded the existence of farman or parwanas
about the benefit it gave and forcefully charged the East India company’s boats to pay taxe for
trading merchandise in respect to the law of the land. The company, after being resisted by the
nawabs of trying to wholly execute the Nishan, appointed John Surman to Delhi and acquired a
farman (1717) from the Emperor Farrukhsiyar. The farman not just confirmed the organization's
entitlement to tax-free business in the nation but additionally gave them zamindari rights over
more than thirty eight mouzas around the organization's Calcutta zamindari.

Farrukh Siyar’s Farman of 1717

The Farrukh Siyar’s Farman of 1717 helped the company in establishing political power through
the acknowledgement of the constitution.. The facts confirm that an apparition ruler whose
authority over the subah was more a fiction than a reality gave the organization's new rights. The
English were not uninformed of the ruler's difficulty. However, they still spent money to acquire
the farman. The reason behind was to pressurize the nawabs through legal authority. However,
the tough and resistable Nawab Murshid Quli Khan resisted their approach and upheld his
sovereign right. Along with him, the succeeding two nawabs (Shaujauddin Khan and Alivardi
Khan) were similarly effective in keeping up the unpeaceful resistance with the
organization.Although, it became a threatful situation under Sirajuddaula who attempted to
obtain the company in a non-ordinary manner.

The pathway to dominance 1756-1765

In April 1756, Sirajuddaula, the grandson of Alivardi Khan, was nominated as the nawab. He
couldn't bear the policies and the behaviour imposed by the company. Therefore, he placed a
parwana on the company to take necessary action unless they complied with his imposed
conditions, which were: the fortifications established were unauthorised and must be removed,
they must comply with trade laws of the land and lastly, they must hand over to the government
all the illegal activities carried out under the Fort Williams authorities. Clearly, the british did not
accept his command. As an aftereffect, Sirajuddaula relears troops and took over all English
trading factories and cleared out the English from the Calcutta region in June 1756. Although,
Sirajuddaula’s victory didn’t last long as an expedition was sent by Robert Clive from Madras
and later captured the city in January 1756. The nawab then realized his weakness and issued a
formal peace treaty, known as the Alinagar treaty during 9 February, 1756. The battle of Palashi
and its aftermath has shaped the establishment of the company’s dominance in the Bengal region.

Road to sovereignty
The battle of Buxar helped the company to take over Diwani in 1765, which in result brought
the company closer to sovereignty. During this time Robert Clive, as soldier and diplomat, took
an opportunity of the situation and proposed a peace treaty with the phantom emperor captivated
by the Marathas at Allahabad. The treaty included that the company would pay a fixed amount
of twenty six lakh rupees annually to the emperor and fifty-three lakh rupees to the nawab, with
the balance of the revenue collected from the three provinces going to the company’s
administration.This agreement made the company acquire more control over the resources of
Bengal. Now, under the Diwani system, only two masters were left to serve, one is the company
and another is the Nawab.
This Dual government strategy was contradictory with the fact that the company had more power
but didn't pay heed to their responsibility and on the other hand the nawabs didn't have power but
responsibilities. The company wasn’t resorting to peaceful means of trading and business, rather
gathering wealth through extortion, illegally obtaining resources through using force. Although
Naib Diwan Khan complained to the Calcutta Council about their activities and how it was
hampering the economy and breaking down the system of the state. But, not only his complaint
was looked down but instead they sent more European supervisors to each Bengal district in
1767 in order to supervise the affairs of the local officials and see how much revenue collection
could be raised. This approach was one of the traits of the direct administration of the country by
the Colonials.

After the Double Government was put to an end in 1772, the company claimed full control of the
Diwani administration. The revenue collection structure was changed and Bengal was divided in
to several districts with every district placed under a British collector with huge powers and
control. Later on, this structure of administration was put to an end by the parliamentary sanction
in 1773.

The first showdown of political power by the parliament was carried by appointing a military
general in the council and gave him the right to go beyond the interest of Indians and use power
to solve the interests of the British and their authoritarian approaches. Lord Cornwallis, was the
governor general who was appointed to take control of the colonial state and he established a
permanent system of administration to ensure it. Besides, he also integrated many organizations
in their administration, judiciary and revenue collection department. Among his work was the
separation of companies' civil administration from trade and commerce and added a professional
civil service as a support of their colonial state. The most significant activity of Lord Cornwallis
was the execution of Permanent Settlement, a grand contract signed between East India
Company and individual landlords such as Zamindars and Talukdars. It was just a mere myth
that the Mughals had control over Bengal, although it was cleared when the parliament
announced in 1813 about the sovereignty over British Indian.

The Pathway to separation and East Bengal achieving Independence under Pakistan
The governor general of India, Lord Curzon, has made an uproaring initiative during his
administration between 1899 to 1905, which was the Partition of Bengal. His sole intention was
to make Bengal’s administration more efficient. Majority public has also been demanding for
Governor-in-Council for Bengal in Madras and Bombay with the same intent. However many
historians contradicted that this was instead a strategy by the British to divide and rule, as they
wanted to separate the people in Bengal community province into two segments in order to
loosen up their national political power. In 1912 Bengal was united with Governor-in-Council
after tremendous protest from nationalist members. After the introduction and removal of
Partition of Bengal, it created trouble within the relationship between Hindu and Muslims in
Bengal. At one end, the educated Muslims supported the imposition of Partition of Bengal. Most
educated Muslims of East Bengal had supported the partition. Their frustrations were reflected in
the subsequent politics of Bengal. Gradually, there were more deteriation in their relationship
after number of attempts by both nationalist Hindu and Muslim leaders to cool down the heat.
The Muslim league came to the spotligh after becoming the spokesperson of the community
during 1940s although, it had small influence in Bengal before. The Lahore resolution of 1940
was something that let Muslims see a glimpse of hope in support of them. After Musllim league
won all seats less two seats, it proved that they were all set for Pakistan. However the Congress,
who represented majority Hindus did not accept the fact and it led to tension between two
groups. In addition, the great Calcutta killing in 1946 was in fact the result of this. All these
events have comprehensively contributed to the settlement of Bengal’s fate for freedom. Bengal
eventually led to partition in 1947 August 14 after efforts from Hindu Mahashaba and later on
accepted by COngress and Muslim league. THerefore, the partition was basically East Bengal
(now Bangladesh) was made separated from Bengal and it got its independence from Britain.
Within the system of Pakistan.
The aftermath of Colonial rule in Bengal
The mixture of two cultures of British and Bengal was brought through the battle of Palashi. At
the end of colonial rule, we can identify many parts where the two cultures have been seen to be
mixed. However, there are differences within the Governor-in-Council of the authoritarian state
with the previous subahdar in darbar in terms of the significant power they had compared to the
subahdars. In addition, lower level jobs were open for the local only as they didn’t prefer it.

The most noticeable example of the British was the integration of English landlord system called
Permanent Settlement. After the Permanent Settlement, the Zamindars got authority over the
zamindaris. Their job was to collect revenue of land from peasants from a property he got
without any investment.

Bengal was known to be significantly involved in exports however its stake was lost within half
a century after the rule of the East Indian company. Within time, the market was captured by the
British industrial products and supply of agricultural raw materials to metropolitan producers.
During this time, the entrepreneurs became landowners and artisans joining cultivation and rural
labourers. On the other hand, there was improvisation in communication infrastructure and an
increase in consumer market due to the rise in urbanisation of the middle class and it created a
ground for modern industries. During this time, foreigners such as Europeans, Armenians,
Marwaris and Parsees took away Bengali entrepreneurs opportunities. Hence, till the end of
Colonial rule, Bengal’s industry was captivated by foreign entrepreneurs.

One thing which no other regimes has attempted was the plan to introduce socio-cultural changes
through westernising the country. Such attempts are Acts like removable of Sati and slavery,
suppressing the thugs. There were changes in the educational system in order to adopt western
values and practice their system. In terms of administrative endeavours, western system of
bureaucracy and local government organizations were developed.
References:
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http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Administration

Barind Tract. (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Barind_Tract

Chinese Accounts. (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Chinese_Accounts

Colonial Period. (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Colonial_Period

Madhupur Tract. (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Madhupur_Tract

Raatan, T. (2004). Encyclopaedia of north-east India.

Singh, U. (2019). A history of ancient and early medieval India: from the stone age to the 12th
century. Noida, India: Pearson.

tsing. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=I-tsing