Chap-1

Bengal as a bridgehead of the British emperor

Economic decline in Eastern Bengal

• The arrival of European -15 century

• This arrival coincide the decline of Mughal
• The subcontinent became an arena of struggle
(Among indigenous and other Europeans)
 Arrival of British east Indian Company
• By 1600s Mughal Emperor had culminated strong
power, dominance, resources , culture etc.
 British East India company
• A private company Formed 1600 ( under Queen
Elizabeth l )
• During Mughal emperor
• Establish factory 1650, Hooghly ( Bengal)
• Founded City of Kolkata (1690) Massive expansion
started
• 1690 started political dominance
British India 1914
• Governor of Bengal Sah Suja the English to trade in
Bengal without any customs duty
• With immense profit it was becoming a ruling
enterprise
• The company took advantages of the political
fragmentation of and internal conspiracy Mughal
Rulers.
• In 1757, Siraj-Ud-Doula ( last Nawab of Bengal) was
defeated in Battle of Plassey ( Polasi) by Robert
Clive

• Granted the title of Diwani in Bangla, Bihar, Orissa

making t he supreme governing power
Robert Clive
 Early impact of the British
• Because of extreme drought and flood lack of
cultivation, unrestricted profiteering grain markets let
to a feminine between 1769-1773 ( in Bengali 1176-
1180)

• Commonly known as Chiyattorer Monantor

• One third of Bengal's population starved to death

Chhiyattorer Monontar
• The permanent Settlement and the Bengal Peasantry
• In late 18 century India stared developing with the
power of East India company. Still it found loss because
of

1. Corruption of officers
2. Massive military expenditure
3. Famine of 1770

• Company transformed into an implement of British

foreign policy
 Warren Hastings
First Govornor General

Lord Charles Cornwallis

2nd Govornor General
 Large-scale export oriented cash cropping

• Bengal was already producing the following ( offten

exported)
• Cotton
• Rice
• Sugarcane
• Mulberry

• Silk and spices were also very precious and attractive

products of India.