Explore the Battle of Buxar (1764), its causes, major events, and impact. Discover Robert Clive's treaties and the rise of British power in India.

The Prelude to the Battle of Buxar

• The East India Company believed that Mir Kasim would serve as their puppet, but he defied their expectations.
• Ram Narayan, deputy-governor of Bihar, ignored repeated requests for revenue accounts from the nawab.
• The misuse of the Company's trade permit (dastak) by English officials created tensions between Mir Kasim and the Company.
• The dastak caused loss of tax revenue and gave unfair competition to local merchants.
• An imperial farman allowed the English to trade duty-free, exacerbating conflicts with the nawab.
• Mir Kasim’s reforms to abolish duties were met with resistance from the British.
• This ongoing conflict eventually escalated into the wars between the English and Mir Kasim in 1763.

The Battle of Buxar: Turning Point in Indian History

• On October 22, 1764, the combined armies of Mir Kasim, Nawab Shuja-ud-Daula, and Shah Alam II were defeated by English forces under Major Hector Munro at Buxar.
• The defeat of the Nawab of Bengal and the Mughal Emperor marked a decisive moment, enhancing English power.
• This victory cemented the English as contenders for supremacy in northern India.

Aftermath of the Battle of Buxar

• After the battle, Mir Jafar, who had been made Nawab in 1763, agreed to hand over important districts like Midnapore, Burdwan, and Chittagong for the Company's military maintenance.
• The English gained the right to trade duty-free, with the exception of a minimal 2% salt duty.
• Mir Jafar's death led to the appointment of his minor son, Najim-ud-Daula, but real power lay with the Naib-Subahdar, appointed by the English.

Key Treaties Concluded by Robert Clive

• Robert Clive concluded two significant treaties at Allahabad in August 1765—one with Nawab Shuja-ud-Daula and the other with Shah Alam II.

Agreement with Nawab Shuja-ud-Daula

• Nawab Shuja-ud-Daula agreed to:
• Surrender Allahabad and Kara to Emperor Shah Alam II.
• Pay Rs 50 lakh to the Company as war indemnity.
• Give Balwant Singh, Zamindar of Banaras, full possession of his estate.

Agreement with Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II

• Shah Alam II agreed to:
• Reside at Allahabad, which would be ceded to him by Nawab Shuja-ud-Daula under the protection of the East India Company.
• Issue a farman granting the diwani of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa to the East India Company in return for an annual payment of Rs 26 lakh.
• Provide Rs 53 lakh to the Company for military defense, police, and justice administration in these provinces.

Clive's Strategic Decisions

• Robert Clive did not want to annex Awadh as it would have placed the Company under obligations to defend a vast frontier.
• The treaty made Awadh a buffer state, securing British interests from potential Afghan and Maratha threats.
• Clive used the Shah Alam II agreement to legitimize British control in Bengal and solidify their political gains.

Robert Clive's Role in Establishing British Power in India

• Robert Clive played a key role in laying the foundation of British power in India after initially resigning from a clerk’s position to join the army.
• Clive was made Governor of Bengal twice, from 1757 to 1760 and again from 1765 to 1767.
• He implemented the dual government system in Bengal and continued to exert control until his return to England, where he allegedly committed suicide in 1774.