In Bengal, the first English factory was established at Hoogli in the year 1651. The permission for the establishment of the factory was given by Mughal Sultan Shuja, who was the second son of Emperor Shah Jahan and the then Subedar of Bengal.
Thereafter, Emperor Farrukhsiyar by the farman of 1717, confirmed the trade privileges granted by the earlier Subedars of Bengal, besides giving permission to the company to rent the additional territory around Calcutta. It was the misuse of the Farman and the trade privileges granted through dastans that later on became the cause of conflict between the company and the Nawabs of Bengal.
The conflict between the Nawab and h the East India Company intensified India due to a number of reasons, which are as follow
- The British illegally used the dastans as excuses to avoid payment of taxes to Nawab of Bengal.
- The British interfered in Nawab’s court and supported one of Siraj-ud- Daulah’s aunt, Ghaseti Begum, who BAT was opposed to the Nawab. The son of Ghaseti’s treasurer had escaped and taken shelter in Fort William but Siraj demanded for his return. Mir Jafar Ali Khan, who was the grand uncle of Siraj and Commander-in-Chief of Nawab’s army, was in the conspiracy with Ghaseti Begum.
- Eventually, Mir Jafar joined the British side through the secret mediators.
- Fort William became the safe shelter for the British. Later, they also added additional fortifications and assembled ammunition without the permission of the Nawab.
- The policy of the British officials was to help the merchants such as Jagat Seth of Murshidabad to consolidate their own base.
- Disloyalty of Mir Jafar and Rai Durlabh to the Nawab of the Bengal
BATTLE OF PLASSEY (1757)
The beginning of the British political sway over India may be traced to the Battle of Plassey in 1757. It was the most decisive battle that marked the initiation of British rule in India for the next two centuries.
The Battle of Plassey took place between the British East India Company and the Nawabs of Benga and his French allies. The English East India Company’s forces under Robert Clive defeated Siraj-ud-Daulah, the Nawab of Bengal. After the collapse of Bengal, the company gained a huge amount of wealth from the Bengal treasury and used it to strengthen its military force.
IMPORTANCE OF THE BATTLE OF PLASSEY
It is considered as a landmark in history and denoted the beginning of the British dominion in India. Before the Battle of Plassey, the English company was just one amongst the many European companies trading in Bengal and huge taxes were imposed by the Nawab of Bengal.
After Plassey, the English virtually monopolized Bengal’s trade and commerce. The French were unable to recover their lost position. The Dutch were also defeated.
From Commerce, the English managed to exert exclusive control on the administration too. It proved as a battle that had far-reaching consequences in deciding the fate of India
It was an important event in the chain of developments that made the English the rulers of India. The consequences of the battle shaped the form of British superiority and the methods of cultural contact.
The superiority of the English soldiers was proved beyond doubt. It proved the success of the machinations of Robert Clive. The Bengal Nawab became a puppet in the hands of the English.
Sir Jadunath Sarkar has narrated the importance of the Battle of Plassey saying that it brought an end to the medieval period and inaugurated the modern period in Indian history. This battle brought about a transformation in the position of the company in Bengal.