Question

Throughout the 18th century, there was an intense conflict between the Company and the nawabs of Bengal, which finally culminated in the Battle of Plassey. Substantiate.

Answer 1

Instructions: Your answer should have the following points:

• Refusal to grant concessions
• Bengal deprived of revenue and authority
• Company’s demands and consequences

Solution:

Refusal to grant concessions:

• Post the death of Aurangzeb, the Bengal nawabs started asserting their authority. Murshid Quli Khan was followed by Alivardi Khan, who was replaced by Sirajuddaulah as the Nawab of Bengal.
• These nawabs refused to grant concessions to the Company, demanded huge tributes for the right to trade, denied it permission to mint coins, and halted its fortifications.

Bengal deprived of revenue and authority

• The nawabs accused the Company of deceit and claimed that it was depriving Bengal of huge amounts of revenue and also undermining the authority of the nawab.
• They also stated that the Company refused to pay taxes, wrote disrespectful letters, and humiliated the nawab and his officials.

Company’s demands and consequences

• The Company, on the other hand, stated that the unfair demands of the officials were destroying their trade and demanded the removal of duties.
• It also argued that it needed to expand its settlements, buy more villages, and rebuild its forts to increase its trade.
• These conflicts led to heated confrontations and finally culminated in the Battle of Plassey.