Battle of Plassey and Battle of Buxar

Siraj-ud-Daula
1. In 1756 Siraj-ud-daula became the Nawab of Bengal after the death of Alivardi
Khan.
2. Siraj-ud-daula’s accession was contested in the court politics and it gave the
British an opening to increase their influence.
3. The main interest of the English was to prevent
succession of an ambitious Nawab who would attempt
to tighten the trading privileges enjoyed and exploited by
the Company.
4. Siraj-ud-daula was one such Nawab and he was ousted
by an alliance between powerful zamindars like the
Jagat Seths, Raja Janki Ram, Raja Manik Chand and
the East India Company in the famous Battle of Plassey
in 1757.

BATTLE OF PLASSEY, 1757

Factors Responsible
1. Grant of Trading Rights: Emperor Farrukhsiyar granted the East India
Company exclusive trading rights in Bengal without paying duties, which led to
resentment among Indian traders.
2. Private Trade and Fortification: The Company's servants engaged in private
trade without paying duties, disregarding the Nawab's orders, and continued
fortifying Fort William to protect their interests.
3. Political Intrigues and Succession Issues: Ambitious rulers like Murshid Quli
Khan and Siraj-ud-daula attempted to control English private trade, while Siraj
faced succession problems and intrigues against him.
4. Shelter to Fugitives: The Company sheltered Krishna Das, son of Raj Ballabh,
who had fled with treasures against the Nawab's will, further straining relations.
5. Battle and Clive's Role: These tensions culminated in the Battle of Plassey,
where Robert Clive's personal enthusiasm and strategic maneuvers played a
crucial role in the British victory and subsequent control of Calcutta.

Black Hole Tragedy

The account narrates events surrounding the Black Hole of Calcutta incident in
1756. Fort William in Calcutta was fortified by the British despite prohibitions. Nawab
Siraj ud-Daulah, alarmed by British actions, ordered a halt to fortification, but the
British ignored him. This led to a siege on the fort by Siraj's forces, resulting in heavy
casualties for the British. After the fort fell, prisoners, including Anglo-Indians, were
confined in a small guard room, where many died due to extreme conditions. John
Zephaniah Holwell and others were taken as prisoners to Murshidabad, while the
rest gained freedom after a relief expedition led by Robert Clive. Some modern
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 historians question this account due to the lack of supporting evidence beyond
Holwell's narration.

The Battle
1. When the news of Siraj’s attack on English settlement reached Madras, an
army was directed towards Calcutta under the command of Robert Clive. The
expedition reached Calcutta on 14 December 1756.
2. Clive skillfully reaped the dissensions in the Nawab’s court to his advantage
and bribed Manik Chand, who surrendered Calcutta. However, in February
1757 the Nawab made peace with Clive by Treaty of Alinagar restoring to the
English their former privileges of trade, granting permission to fortify Calcutta
and promising compensation for the losses suffered by the English.
3. However, Clive’s intention was to completely make the Nawab subservient to
the Company. Therefore, he hatched a plan to dethrone the Nawab. Clive
arranged a conspiracy in which Mir Jaffar, Rai Durlabh, Jagat Seth and Omi
Chand was included.
4. On 23 June 1757 the rival forces faced each other on the battlefield of Plassey.
The outcome of the battle was almost pre-decided. The Nawab’s large army of
50000 was commanded by the treacherous General Mir Jaffar. Siraj-ud-Daula
was defeated and later captured and put to death.

Post Plassey
1. Mir Jaffar granted the English zamindari of 24 Parganas and a personal present
of over 2 lakh pounds to Clive as well as 50 lakh rupees to the army and naval
officers.
2. Battle of Plassey made a significant alteration in the company's trading
structure. Prior to 1757, the English commerce in Bengal was predominantly
funded by bullion imports from England; however, following that year, not only
did bullion imports cease, but silver was also exported from Bengal to China
and other regions of India. It offered the East India Company a competitive
advantage over its European competitors.
3. The success of the British established them as the biggest power contender in
India and thereafter the political influence of the British only increased.
4. Plassey had brought a gradual transformation in the character of the Company.
It did not remain merely as trading Company but also became a military
Company possessing considerable control.
5. In 1759, the Mughal emperor Shah Alam II launched an invasion against Bihar
with the support of Allahabad Governor Mohd. Ghuli Khan. The united force of
Clive and Mir Zafar destroyed him. Clive was given the title of Umra by Mir.
6. After some time, Mir Zafar found it hard to meet the growing demands of the
company. On 25 June 1760 Clive left for England and Henry Vansittart became
Governor of Fort William. Ven replaced Mir Zafar with Mir Qasim in 1760.

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Mir Qasim
 Conflict over Succession: Miran's death sparked a succession dispute between
his son and Mir Kasim, Mir Jafar's son-in-law.
 Vansittart's Intervention: Governor Vansittart supported Mir Kasim's claim and
struck a secret deal where Mir Kasim would provide funds to the Company in
exchange for their support.
 Mir Jafar's Decline: Mir Jafar had lost the trust of the English, and his army's
rebellion over unpaid wages weakened his position.
 Mir Qasim's Ascendancy: Mir Qasim became Nawab of Bengal and
immediately addressed the Company's financial concerns by bribing key
influencers.
 Administrative Reforms: Mir Qasim, considered one of the most capable
Nawabs since Alivardi Khan, moved the capital to Monghyr and modernized the
army along European lines.
 Military Modernization: He facilitated the production of firearms in Monghyr,
aiming to enhance the military capabilities of his forces.
 Suppression of Rebellion: Mir Qasim sought to assert authority by quelling
rebellious zamindars in Bengal and Bihar who had challenged previous
Nawabs' rule.

Mir Qasim and East India Company

1. The Company was looking for subservient Nawab in Mir Qasim, but Mir Qasim
belied the expectations of the Company.
2. Mir Qasim had his own political ambitions. He viewed English merely as an ally
who had helped him in gaining the throne, for which Nawab had adequately
paid them. He did not like the controlling authority of the Company officials.
3. Then emerged the issue of dastak. What the Nawab objected to was the misuse
of the Company’s dastak by which the Company’s servants indulged in inland
private trade without payment of duties.
4. Unable to prevent the exploitation of dastaks, the new nawab removed all
internal tariffs, allowing Indian merchants to enjoy the same benefits. The
English were enraged by this showing of independence and replaced him with
Mir Jafar as a punitive action.
5. Situation became chaotic after the abolition of dastak and soon British
conquered Munghyr and Murshidabad. Mir Qasim fled from Bengal (December
1763) and tried to form a grand alliance with the Mughal emperor Shah Alam II
and Shuja-Ud-Daula of Oudh.
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Battle of Buxar
Factors Responsible
1. Battle of Plassey did not decide who is the real authority in Bengal? Mir Qasim
still believed in the authority of Nawab, while British viewed him merely as a
puppet.
2. Mir Qasim’s show of authority acted against the colonial outlook of the
Company.
3. Shuja-ud-Daula also despised the British authority.
4. Issue of Dastak and economic exploitation by Company.
5. However, both sides did not want a conflict at that stage. The Nawab was still
to consolidate his position in Bengal while British feared to lose the gains from
Plassey. But the stubborn behavior of some officials and issue of dastaks
heated the situation.

The battle
1. Shuja-ud-Daula backing was won when he was offered Bihar and its treasury,
as well as a payout of Rs 30 million if the mission was successful.
2. However, in Battle of Buxar in 1764, the combined forces were defeated and
Treaty of Allahabad was signed in 1765. In accordance with the treaty Shah
Alam II granted the diwani of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa to the Company.

Importance
 Treaty of Allahabad: The Treaty of Allahabad granted the East India Company
absolute control over the resources of Bengal Subah, firmly establishing British
mastery over Bengal.
 Role of British Resident: By 1772, the British Resident at the court of
Murshidabad had become the central authority in Bengal, marking the
implementation of the Company's imperial administration model of indirect
control.
 War Indemnity to Awadh: As part of agreements following a conflict, the
Company paid a war indemnity of Rs 5 million to the Nawab of Awadh, Shuja
ud Daula. This resulted in mutual protection agreements and duty-free trading
privileges for the Company in Awadh, later leading to annexation issues.
 Installation of Nizam ud Daulah: Following Mir Zafar's death, the British installed
his second son, Nizam ud Daulah, as Nawab and coerced him into signing a
new contract in 1765. This contract mandated the disbandment of much of the
Nawab's army and the appointment of a Deputy Subedar by the Company to
manage Bengal.

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  Dual Rule Establishment: These developments led to the establishment of dual
rule in Bengal, with the Company exercising significant control through
appointed officials and agreements with local rulers.

Battle of Buxar raised important questions. The officials in India had no

administrative experience and the higher authority was situated thousands of miles
away in England.
1. What should be the relations between British government and a commercial
company which now had administrative responsibilities?
2. How should the company authorities located in England keep control over the
Indian administration?
3. What should be the relation between Bengal, Madras and Bombay?

Thus, Regulating Act 1773 was passed.

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 Dual System of Administration in Bengal (1765-1772)
 Under this system, Bengal's administration was split into Nizamat
(administrative responsibility) and Diwani (revenue collection). The East India
Company was granted Diwani rights, while Nizamat was entrusted to the
Bengal Nawab.
 Nawabs During Dual System: Nawab-ud-Daulah and Saif-ud-Daulah served
as Nawabs of Bengal during this period from 1765 to 1772.
 Appointment of Deputy Diwans: Due to the Company's inability to directly
collect revenue, it appointed two deputy diwans: Mohammad Reza Khan for
Bengal and Raja Sitah Roy for Bihar. Mohammad Reza Khan also acted as
deputy Nizam, overseeing administrative functions.
 Company's Role in Nizamat: Although Nizamat functions such as police and
judicial matters were technically under the Nawab's jurisdiction, the Company
also undertook them. Mohammad Reza Khan was appointed deputy Nazim
by the British, ensuring Company influence in Nizamat affairs.
 Company's Real Power: Despite the theoretical division of administration
between the Company and the Nawab, the Company effectively wielded
power. It had authority without direct responsibility, making the system
advantageous for the Company.
 Warren Hastings' Reforms: In 1772, Warren Hastings abolished the dual
system, bringing an end to the Company's indirect control and instituting
reforms to consolidate Company authority in Bengal.

Effects of Dual System

1. The power of Nawab was reduced to farce and Bengal’s political culture took
a deep dive.
2. It led to administrative breakdown thus culminating into utter lawlessness in
Bengal. This can be witnessed by Sanyasi raiders (which will study in later
chapters).
3. It led to decline in agricultural produce. Bengal no more remained the granary
of India. The flawed working of land revenue settlement was the prime reason
for this.
4. It also led to ruining of local industries as well as trade and commerce.

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