Aliwardi Khan,Nawob of Bengal),India. www. indianetzone.com |
After his death in 1756 Siraj-ud-daulah, his grandson (daughter's son) became the ruler. He was young and incompetent. Since the time of Aliwardi Khan, the British had been purposely violating their trade privileges granted to them by Farrukhsiyar in 1717 – building further fortification, strengthening their garrison at Fort. William, Calcutta without written permission from the young Nawob. The company made huge profit by fraudulent use of Dastak (free trade pass). They carried on Customs free trade. Export-import taxes remained unpaid for a pretty long time. A great financial loss for the Bengal ruler.
Their over interference in the Nawob's administration and insulting responses angered the Nawob. Provocations and counter provocations led to animosity and hatred between the ruler and the British. On June 4th 1756 the Nawob's army captured the company's factory at Kasim Bazaar and on 20th captured Calcutta. This resulted in 'Black Hole (of Calcutta) tragedy and the casualties became controversial. This incident became a trump card for the British to justify their stay in India and their military actions against the Indian rulers. This paved the way for the entry of Robert Clive into Bengal from Madras who was fresh from victory over the French led by Dupleix along with Chanda Shaib.
In 1733 the Nawob of Bengal complained about the English traders and their untrustworthy British company. It was something like this ....
When they first came into the country they petitioned the then government in humble manner for liberty to purchase a spot of ground to build a factory house upon, which no sooner granted, they built a strong
Map of early Bengal credit www. leics.gov.uk |
o Rs 10,00,000.00 ... they robbed,plundered and carried great number of the king’s subjects of both sexes into slavery in their own country …...
At last they reached the final stage of putting the noose around the Nawob and his country after the battles at Plassey (June, 1757) and Buxar (october,1764).