Impact British occupation of Bengal

The history of British rule in Bengal dates back to 1680, when the East India Company secured a trading charter from the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. In 1757, after defeating the Marathas, the  British occupation of Bengal set up headquarters in Fort William. The following year they took over the rest of Bengal.The Bengal Presidency, which covers much of modern-day Bangladesh, West Bengal. The military takeover marked the beginning of British rule in India.  The East India Company ruled Bengal until 1857, when it was annexed by the British Crown and combined with the neighbouring territories of Bihar and Orissa to form the Eastern Provinces.

British occupation of Bengal

Bengal during the 17th and 18th century

• Mughal era:  Bengal was one of the richest and fertile provinces of the mughal empire. The authoritative power lies with the Nawab of Bengal
• Economic importance: Bengal held its economic importance for its famous saltpetre, silk and textile. Rice, indigo , sugar , cotton ,saltpetre etc were exported from Bengal to Europe.
• Bengal  was one of the most important provinces for the British Empire. East India Company trade from Bengal was worth £ 50,000, per annum
• Conflicts between nawabs and British: Nawab of Bengal opposed the special privilege given to the East India Company, as it results in huge amount of loss for the provincial exchequer. Commercial interests of British companies and the Bengal government became the main cause of conflict between them. As a result, company want to establish a puppet on the throne of nawab 

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Battle of Plassey

The battle of Plassey was fought in the region of West Bengal in 1757. Robert Clive led the troops of the British East India company against the forces led by Siraj-ud-daula. He was the last independent ruler/Nawab of Bengal. 

Siraj-ud-Daulah faced opposition from within his own court, which  helped the British win the Battle of Plassey.

Unsatisfied followers of Nawab such as Mir Jafar ali khan and other Bengali generals were ready to ally with the British Empire. Mir Jafar Ali khan was promised the throne of Bengal by the British East India Company. This secret alliance with the British led to the defeat of Nawab. Siraj-ud-daula died when he tried to escape from the war with his troops but he was killed by Miran, the son of Mir Jafar. 

The Battle of Plassey established the stronghold of the British in Bengal.

Battle of Buxar

In the battle of Buxar, the British East India Company defeated the Nawab of Bengal in 1764. This event has been called the most decisive moment in the history of the British in Bengal. This is because the victory ensured that the British East India Company would be the dominant power in Bengal. The battle of Buxar was fought between the British company led by hector munro and Mir Qasim. In this decisive battle, Mir Qasim and his allies Shah Alam II and Nawab of Awadh got defeated by the British army.  As a result British occupied the Bengal

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Impact of  British occupation on Bengal

The British East India Company’s occupation of Bengal had a profound impact on the region. The East India Company’s armies, led by Robert Clive, defeated the forces of the Nawab of Bengal in the Battle of Plassey in 1757,the Battle resulted in the treaty of Allahabad in 1765. In which Mughal emperor surrendered the control over Bengal. Robert Clive became the first governor General of Bengal. In the battle of Buxar not only Nawab but the Delhi emperor was also defeated by the British army. The British ruled the territory as a sovereign power. The East India Company was given the authority to collect taxes and raise an army in Bengal, which it used to further expand its territories. This caused a great deal of resentment among the Bengali people, who felt that their sovereign rights had been violated by the East India Company’s occupation.

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Conclusion

The British East India Company (EIC) had a profound impact on the people and economy of Bengal. The East India Company had been trading in Bengal since the early 17th century but it wasn’t until the mid-18th century that the East India Company started to make a major impact on Bengal. The British gradually took over Bengal and in 1757 the East India Company defeated the Nawab of Bengal at the Battle of Plassey. The British East India Company became the dominant power in Bengal and the EIC ruled Bengal for almost 200 years.