History of Bengal | Regional Powers: A Comprehensive Guide
Regional power of Bengal
| Timeline | Rulers/activities |
| 1717 | Bengal was carved out by Murshid Quli Khan |
| 1717-27 | Rule of Murshid Quli Khan |
| 1727-39 | Shujauddin |
| 1739 | Sarfaraj |
| 1739-56 | Alivardi Khan |
| 1756-57 | Siraj-udaulah |
| 1757 | Battle of Plassey |
| 1757-1760 | Mir Jafar |
| 1760-63 | Mir Qasim |
| 1764 | Battle of Buxar |
| 1765 | Treaty of allahabad and dual administration |
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History of Bengal- Features and flourishment of Bengal
Bengal became the richest province of Mughal India under the administration and rule of Murshid Quli Khan. Some of the features of Bengal are as follows
Efficient land revenue system
Mushid favoured the development of few powerful zamindars instead of a large number of smaller zamindars.
Growth of merchant bankers
One of the unique features of Bengal was the important role of merchant bankers. Because of requirement of timely payments of taxes and revenue, peasants often approached merchant bankers for loans/advances.
Ex- Jagat Seths being the richest merchant bankers.
Flourishing Agriculture
Bengal was an agriculturally rich province. It was blessed with all types of climatic regions which received sufficient sunlight, irrigation and rainfall. Rich agriculture also helped in developing agriculture based industries like textile industry.
Oceanic trade
During the political turmoil of mid eighteenth century, the trade from overland rule declined but the gap was filled by oceanic trade. Oceanic trade flourished during this period and it lead to improvement in overall wealth of Bengal.
Favourable balance of trade
One of the major contributions to the growth of Bengal was a favourable balance of trade. The import demand from Bengal was very little as compared to its export growth. This double advantage led to accumulation of huge anki of bullion (foreign currency) and gold.
Political stability
Bengal didn’t face any major internal conflicts in terms of successions as well as from internal administrators. This political stability enhanced the power and hold of Bengal.
Less interference from outsiders
Bengal had lesser threat from outsiders due to its location. It was also not much disturbed by British East India company until 1757.
Regional Rulers:
Alivardi Khan (1739-56)
Alivardi Khan was an able administrator but he didn’t have greater military and naval strength. As such, during his tenure, Maratha invaded many a times and looted many Kothis of Jagat Seth. Finally Orissa was handed over to Marathas and Maratha were assured of receiving 1.25 lakh RS annually.
War of succession
After the death of Alivardi Khan, a war of succession started between Ghaseeti Begum(his daughter) and Siraj-ud-daulah (his grandson).
Siraj-udaulah
Finally, Siraj-ud-daulah was installed to the throne. He was an able administrator and as such wanted to grow Bengal through a competitive market. He didn’t pay heed to dictats of Jagat Seth and the British. He maintained that Bengal would remain an open economy.
Following instances were noted during his tenure:-
- Continuous Distress in Bengal-British relations.
→Refuge was given to a fugitive Krishnadas in Fort William.
→ They also didn’t pay taxes and duties to Siraj-ud-daulah
→British didn’t make Peshkash which the French did.
→Even after continuous warning, the British placed guns in Fort William in the name of French rivalry.
- Holwell incident/ Black hole theory
- Battle of Plassey, 1757.
Mir Jafar (1757-60)
After the Battle of Plassey, he became the ruler of Bengal. Due to higher payments to British and war indemnities, Bengal treasury faced a severe crisis. As such, Mir Jafar started to take help by aligning and favouring the Dutch. This act was not liked by British and they defeated the Dutch in the battle of Bedora (1859) and deposed Mir Jafar from power.
Mir Qasim (1760-63)
After being appointed by the British, he gave Zamindari rights of Burdwan, Midnapore and Chittagong to the British. He also paid 29 lakh rs to the British in 3 years. To lessen British interference he shifted the capital from murshidabad to Munger. He also abolished all inland duties to keep Indian merchants on equal footing with the British. It was contested by both Jagat Seth and British. Mir Qasim killed Swaroop and Mehtab Chand Jagat Seth leading the successive fights with the British. He later fled to Awadh and led the Battle of Buxar in 1764.
Battle of Buxar
Fought between grand alliance (consisting of Awadh ruler Shuja-ud-daulah, Mir Qasim and Mughal emperor Shah Alam II) and the British ( led by Major Munro). Technical superiorirty and unified command led to British victory.
Grand alliance was defeated and the treaty of Allahabad was signed.
Treaty of Allahabad (1765)
- Mughal emperor was treated with respect and was given 26 lakh pension annually.
- British got diwani right of Bihar, Bengal and Orissa.
- Mir Qasim was exiled
- Siraj-ud-daulah paid 50 Lakh RS as war indemnity.
- Awadh became the alliance partner of the British.
- Dual administration system started in Bengal whereby revenue function was with the British and Nizamat (administration) was under Nawab of Bengal.
- Mir Jafar was appointed again as the Nawab.
