Battles of Plassey and Buxar

1. Battle of Plassey (1757)

Overview

• Date: June 23, 1757
• Location: Near Palashi, Bengal
• Participants: British East India Company (under Robert Clive) vs. Nawab of Bengal, Siraj-ud-Daulah
• Result: British victory, establishment of British power in Bengal

Key Points

• Reasons for Conflict:

  • Siraj-ud-Daulah suspected the British of conspiring against him.
  • British were accused of supporting the Nawab’s rivals.
  • The British were denied access to the three forts in Calcutta.

• Strategic Factors:

  • British used a small force (around 3000 men) with local allies.
  • Siraj-ud-Daulah’s army was larger but lacked unity and discipline.
  • British exploited internal divisions among the Nawab’s forces.

• Aftermath:

  • Siraj-ud-Daulah was deposed and executed.
  • Mir Jafar was installed as the new Nawab with British support.
  • British gained control of Bengal.

Important Terms

• Mir Jafar: The new Nawab installed by the British after the Battle of Plas.
• Diwani Rights: The right to collect revenue in Bengal, granted to the British by Mir Jafar.

Exam-Focused Facts

• First major victory of the British East India Company.
• Marked the beginning of British colonial rule in India.
• Key figures: Robert Clive, Siraj-ud-Daulah, Mir Jafar.

2. Battle of Buxar (1764)

Overview

• Date: October 22, 1764
• Location: Buxar, Bihar
• Participants: British East India Company (under Hector Munro) vs. Nawab of Bengal, Mir Qasim, and Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II
• Result: British victory, further consolidation of British power

Key Points

• Reasons for Conflict:

  • Mir Qasim, the new Nawab of Bengal, sought to reduce British influence.
  • He was supported by the Mughal Emperor and Afghan forces.
  • British were accused of interfering in local administration.

• Strategic Factors:

  • British had a well-disciplined army and superior logistics.
  • Mir Qasim’s forces were disorganized and lacked coordination.
  • British secured the support of local zamindars and merchants.

• Aftermath:

  • Mir Qasim was defeated and fled to Awadh.
  • Shah Alam II was reinstated as the Mughal Emperor, but British influence grew.
  • British gained the Diwani rights in Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa.

Important Terms

• Diwani Rights: The right to collect revenue in Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa, granted to the British in 1765.
• Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II: A symbolic figure who was used by the British to legitimize their rule.

Exam-Focused Facts

• Second major British victory in India.
• Confirmed British dominance in Bengal and surrounding regions.
• Key figures: Hector Munro, Mir Qasim, Shah Alam II.

3. British Control in Bihar, Bengal, Odisha

Overview

• Post-Battle of Buxar (1764): British established firm control over Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha.
• Administrative Structure: Centralized administration with British officials in key positions.

Key Aspects

Revenue System

• Diwani Rights: Granted to the British in 1765, allowing them to collect revenue from Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa.
• Revenue Collection: Centralized under British officials, leading to increased fiscal control and exploitation.

Impact on Local Administration

• Zamindars: Local landlords were used as intermediaries for revenue collection.
• British Officials: Appointed to oversee administration, leading to the establishment of a colonial bureaucracy.
• Land Revenue System: Introduced a systematic method for collecting land revenue, which became a key source of British wealth.

Important Dates

• 1757: Battle of Plassey – British gain control of Bengal.
• 1764: Battle of Buxar – British gain control of Bihar and Orissa.
• 1765: Diwani Rights granted to the British in Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa.

Exam-Focused Facts

• British East India Company became the de facto ruler of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa.
• Revenue system became the backbone of British economic exploitation.
• Zamindars were used as agents of British revenue collection.
• British control marked the beginning of colonial administration in India.