Battle of Buxar

Notes

The Battle of Buxar (22 October 1764) was fought between the English East India Company under Major Hector Munro and the combined forces of Mir Qasim (deposed Nawab of Bengal), Shuja-ud-Daulah (Nawab of Awadh) and the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II.

Background

Mir Qasim (1760-63) was installed after Mir Jafar. He reorganised administration and finances, shifted his capital from Murshidabad to Monghyr (Munger), and trained a modern army with the help of Gurgin Khan.
In 1762 he abolished all internal duties, which ended the Company's servants' unfair advantage from dastaks. This led to open conflict.
The English reinstated Mir Jafar (1763); Mir Qasim killed English prisoners at Patna (1763); battles at Katwa, Giria and Udhua Nala (1763) went against him. He fled to Awadh and formed an alliance with Shuja-ud-Daulah and Shah Alam II.

The battle: the Company army (about 7,000) defeated an allied force of about 40,000. Mir Qasim fled; Shah Alam II joined the English.

Treaty of Allahabad (August 1765) (Robert Clive)

With Shah Alam II: the emperor granted the Diwani (revenue collection) of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa to the Company in return for ₹26 lakh a year. He was given Allahabad and Kora and lived under Company protection.
With Shuja-ud-Daulah: Awadh was returned, but he had to pay a war indemnity of ₹50 lakh, cede Allahabad and Kora, and accept a Company garrison; Awadh became a buffer state.

Consequences

Buxar was the decisive victory: it made the Company the real ruler of Bengal and a major power in North India.
Dual Government (1765-72) in Bengal: Diwani (revenue) with the Company, Nizamat (police and justice) with the Nawab; the Company's deputies were Muhammad Reza Khan (Bengal) and Raja Shitab Roy (Bihar). It gave the Company power without responsibility and led to the Bengal famine of 1770. Warren Hastings abolished it in 1772.

Key Points

22 October 1764; Hector Munro vs Mir Qasim, Shuja-ud-Daulah and Shah Alam II.
Mir Qasim abolished internal duties; Patna massacre (1763).
Treaty of Allahabad (1765): Diwani of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa for ₹26 lakh.
Dual Government (1765-72), ended by Warren Hastings.
Buxar, not Plassey, confirmed British control.

MCQs

Q1. The Battle of Buxar was fought in: (a) 1757 (b) 1760 (c) 1764 (d) 1765 Ans: (c). 22 October 1764.

Q2. By the Treaty of Allahabad (1765), the Company got the Diwani of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa from: (a) Mir Qasim (b) Shuja-ud-Daulah (c) Shah Alam II (d) Mir Jafar Ans: (c).

Q3. The system of Dual Government in Bengal was introduced by: (a) Warren Hastings (b) Robert Clive (c) Cornwallis (d) Wellesley Ans: (b). 1765; abolished by Warren Hastings in 1772.