question_answer

How did the British annex Bengal?

Answer:

Bengal was a prosperous land and the British now wanted control over it. They began by fortifying their trading settlement. The officials of the Company then acquired the zamindari rights of three villages, one of them being Kalikata. Siraj-ud-daulah asked them to demolish the fortifications, but the British paid no heed. According to them, to build up the trade, forts had to be built. They also refused to pay the revenue. The Young Nawab attacked the British factory at Kassim bazaar and locked the warehouses and imprisoned the officials. Then, he marched to fort William and defeated the British easily. The British sent the ambitious General Robert Clive to take charge and defeat the Nawab of Bengal. Clive was a military genius. On June 23rd, 1757, the armies of Siraj-ud-Daulah and East India Company faced each other in Plassey. The Nawab's forces were huge as compared to the British army. The Nawab was betrayed by Mir Jafar, the commander of his army. He was in charge of a large section of the army and refused to fight as he had been bribed by Robert Clive. Also, rainfall had made the Nawab's artillery unfit for use. The Nawab lost and was put to death. Mir Jafar was made the Nawab of Bengal but with limited power. The Company was granted undisputed right to free trade in Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. It also received the zamindari of 24 pagans near Calcutta. Mir Jafar had to pay a huge sum of money as compensation for the attack on Calcutta. The financial bleeding of Bengal had begun. The Company continued demanding more and Mir Jafar was unable to fulfil their demands. He tried to conspire with the Dutch to expel the company from Bengal. The company now became unhappy with him and his son-in-law, Mir Qasim was made the Nawab. He had to give the Company officials gifts amounting to 27 lacks and the zamindari of three more districts. After this battle, the Company got control of the rich province of Bengal.