About the British Conquest: Plassey and Buxar
The Battle of Plassey (1757) and the Battle of Buxar (1764) are the two events that turned the English East India Company from a trading body into the real ruler of Bengal, and then of much of India. Plassey gave the Company political influence in Bengal, while Buxar made that influence complete and legal through the grant of the Diwani in 1765. For this reason, these two battles are called the foundation of British rule in India.
Background: The English in Bengal
The English East India Company had a factory at Calcutta (Fort William), founded in 1690. The Company enjoyed valuable trade privileges, including the use of dastaks (free passes) granted by the Mughal emperor, which allowed it to trade in Bengal without paying duties. The Nawabs of Bengal, especially Alivardi Khan, allowed the English to trade but kept them under control. When Alivardi Khan died in 1756, his grandson Siraj-ud-Daulah became the Nawab. He was young and faced rivalry within his court.
Causes of the Battle of Plassey
The main causes were the misuse of dastaks by the Company’s servants for private trade, the fortification of Calcutta without the Nawab’s permission, and the refusal of the English to obey the Nawab’s orders. When Siraj-ud-Daulah attacked and captured Calcutta in June 1756, the alleged Black Hole tragedy took place. In January 1757 Robert Clive and Admiral Watson recaptured Calcutta, and in February 1757 the Treaty of Alinagar restored the Company’s privileges. Clive then planned to replace Siraj-ud-Daulah with a friendly Nawab.
The Battle of Plassey (23 June 1757)
The battle was fought at Palashi (Plassey) on the banks of the Bhagirathi river, near Murshidabad. The English force under Robert Clive faced the much larger army of Siraj-ud-Daulah. The Nawab’s army was weakened by a conspiracy led by his own commander Mir Jafar, along with Rai Durlabh, the banker Jagat Seth, and Amichand. Because Mir Jafar and a large part of the army did not fight, Siraj-ud-Daulah was defeated. He fled and was later killed by Miran, the son of Mir Jafar. Mir Jafar was made the new Nawab. In return, the Company received the zamindari of the 24 Parganas, a large sum of money, and rich trade privileges.
From Mir Jafar to Mir Qasim
Mir Jafar soon became a mere puppet and could not satisfy the Company’s endless demands. He was replaced in 1760 by his son-in-law Mir Qasim, who gave the Company the districts of Burdwan, Midnapore and Chittagong. Mir Qasim tried to be independent: he shifted his capital from Murshidabad to Munger, reorganised his army, and in 1762 abolished all internal duties so that Indian traders would be equal to the English. This angered the Company. The English defeated him at Buxar, and he fled. Mir Jafar was restored as Nawab in 1763.
The Battle of Buxar (22 October 1764)
The Battle of Buxar was a much bigger and more decisive battle than Plassey. The English army under Hector Munro defeated the combined forces of Mir Qasim, Shuja-ud-Daulah (the Nawab of Awadh) and the Mughal emperor Shah Alam II. This alliance was formed because all three feared the growing power of the English. The English victory at Buxar destroyed the last hope of an Indian combination against them.
The Treaty of Allahabad and the Grant of Diwani (1765)
After Buxar, Robert Clive concluded the Treaty of Allahabad (1765). Shuja-ud-Daulah was given back Awadh but had to pay a large fine. The Mughal emperor Shah Alam II was granted Kara and Allahabad and an annual pension. Most importantly, on 12 August 1765 the emperor granted the Company the Diwani rights of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa, that is, the right to collect land revenue. The Company then introduced the Dual Government (1765–1772) under which the Company held the Diwani (revenue) while the Nawab held the Nizamat (police and criminal justice). This system was abolished by Warren Hastings in 1772.
Timeline of Plassey and Buxar
- 1690: Founding of Calcutta by the English.
- 1756: Siraj-ud-Daulah captures Calcutta; Black Hole incident.
- 1757: Treaty of Alinagar; Battle of Plassey (23 June); Mir Jafar made Nawab.
- 1760: Mir Qasim replaces Mir Jafar.
- 1762: Mir Qasim abolishes internal duties.
- 1764: Battle of Buxar (22 October).
- 1765: Treaty of Allahabad; grant of Diwani (12 August).
- 1765–1772: Dual Government in Bengal.
- 1772: Warren Hastings abolishes the Dual Government.
Main Facts about Plassey and Buxar (Quick Revision Bullets)
- Battle of Plassey: 23 June 1757, at Palashi on the Bhagirathi.
- Commanders at Plassey: Robert Clive (English) vs Siraj-ud-Daulah (Bengal).
- Key traitor at Plassey: Mir Jafar, the Nawab’s commander.
- Result of Plassey: Mir Jafar became the puppet Nawab.
- Battle of Buxar: 22 October 1764, English under Hector Munro.
- Allies at Buxar: Mir Qasim, Shuja-ud-Daulah and Shah Alam II.
- Result of Buxar: Decisive English victory.
- Treaty of Allahabad: 1765.
- Diwani granted: 12 August 1765 by Shah Alam II.
- Dual Government: 1765–1772; abolished by Warren Hastings.
Important Persons and Terms
- Robert Clive: English commander at Plassey; architect of the Diwani settlement.
- Siraj-ud-Daulah: the last independent Nawab of Bengal to oppose the English.
- Mir Jafar: the commander whose betrayal decided Plassey.
- Mir Qasim: able Nawab who tried to assert independence and fought at Buxar.
- Shuja-ud-Daulah: Nawab of Awadh, ally at Buxar.
- Shah Alam II: Mughal emperor who granted the Diwani.
- Hector Munro: English commander at Buxar.
- Dastak: a free pass allowing duty-free trade; its misuse was a major cause.
- Diwani: the right to collect land revenue.
- Dual Government: the system of Company revenue and Nawab responsibility.
Why This Topic Matters for Exams
Common questions: When was the Battle of Plassey fought? (1757.) Who led the English at Plassey? (Robert Clive.) Who betrayed Siraj-ud-Daulah? (Mir Jafar.) When was the Battle of Buxar fought? (1764.) Who commanded the English at Buxar? (Hector Munro.) Who granted the Diwani? (Shah Alam II, in 1765.) Who abolished the Dual Government? (Warren Hastings, 1772.) A common trap is to confuse the two battles: Plassey (1757) made the English powerful, but Buxar (1764) made them the real rulers of Bengal.
How to Prepare This Topic
- Learn the causes. Misuse of dastaks, fortification of Calcutta and the Black Hole episode.
- Learn Plassey. Date, commanders, the role of Mir Jafar and the result.
- Learn Buxar. Date, the triple alliance and the English victory.
- Learn the Diwani and Dual Government. The settlement of 1765 and its abolition in 1772.
- Remember the order. Plassey then Buxar then Diwani then Dual Government.
Common Exam Traps
- Plassey (1757) came before Buxar (1764); do not reverse them.
- Mir Jafar betrayed at Plassey; Mir Qasim fought at Buxar.
- The Diwani was granted by Shah Alam II, not by the Nawab of Bengal.
- Hector Munro commanded at Buxar, while Clive commanded at Plassey.
- The Dual Government was introduced by Clive but abolished by Warren Hastings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Battle of Plassey important in Indian history?
The Battle of Plassey, fought on 23 June 1757, made the English East India Company the real power behind the throne of Bengal. After defeating Siraj-ud-Daulah with the help of Mir Jafar’s treachery, the Company gained money, territory and trade privileges, and began its rise from trader to ruler.
What were the main causes of the Battle of Plassey?
The main causes were the misuse of dastaks (free trade passes), the unauthorised fortification of Calcutta by the English, the refusal to obey the Nawab, and the clash between Siraj-ud-Daulah and the Company. The capture of Calcutta and the Black Hole episode led Clive to retaliate and plot the Nawab’s overthrow.
How was the Battle of Buxar different from the Battle of Plassey?
Plassey (1757) was a short battle won largely through conspiracy, while Buxar (1764) was a full and decisive battle. At Buxar the English under Hector Munro defeated the combined armies of Mir Qasim, Shuja-ud-Daulah and Shah Alam II, which firmly established British rule in Bengal.
What was the Treaty of Allahabad and what did the Company gain from it?
The Treaty of Allahabad (1765) was concluded by Robert Clive after Buxar. Shuja-ud-Daulah got back Awadh, Shah Alam II got Kara and Allahabad, and most importantly the Mughal emperor granted the Company the Diwani rights of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa on 12 August 1765.
What was the Dual Government and who abolished it?
The Dual Government (1765–1772) was a system in which the Company held the Diwani (revenue) while the Nawab held the Nizamat (police and criminal justice). It gave the Company power without responsibility and was abolished by Warren Hastings in 1772.
Why is Buxar called more decisive than Plassey?
Buxar is called more decisive because the English there defeated not only a Nawab but a grand alliance of Bengal, Awadh and the Mughal emperor. The victory led directly to the grant of the Diwani in 1765, which gave the Company legal control over the revenues of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa, making it the true ruler.