Battle of Buxar(1764)

The Battle of Buxar emerged as an important clash between the British East India Company and an alliance of Mir Kasim (Nawab of Bengal). This battle showed a struggle for power and control in the Indian subcontinent.

Battle of Buxar (1764) will be helpful for UPSC IAS Exam preparation. GS Paper-1 Art and Culture.

Table of Content

• Causes (Background) Battle of Buxar
• What was the Battle of Buxar?
• Combatants
• Result
• Aftermath
• What is the Treaty of Allahabad (1765)?

Causes (Background) Battle of Buxar

• The Company expected Mir Kasim would prove to be an ideal puppet for them.
  • However, Mir Kasim shattered the expectations of the Company.
• Mir Kasim faced open defiance from Ram Narayan, deputy governor of Bihar.
  • Ram Narayan received backing from English officials in Patna.
• Company officials’ misuse of dastak created tension and loss of tax revenue for Mir Kasim.
  • Local merchants faced unfair competition from Company merchants due to the misuse of dastak.
  • Company servants claimed trade privileges and sold dastak to Indian merchants for personal gain.
  • Company servants used coercion to obtain goods at cheaper rates, contradicting the idea of duty-free trade.
• Mir Kasim decided to eliminate duties but the British opposed this and insisted on preferential treatment against other traders.

Wars before the Battle of Buxer

• The emergence of a conflict between the Nawab Company regarding transit duty resulted in the outbreak of wars in 1763.
• The English achieved a series of victories in battles fought at Katwah, Murshidabad, Giria, Sooty, and Munger.
• Following these defeats, Mir Kasim sought refuge in Awadh (or Oudh).
• Mir Kasim established a coalition with the Nawab of Awadh, Shuja-ud-daulah, and the Mughal Emperor, Shah Alam II.
  • Their objective was to reclaim Bengal from English rule.

What was the Battle of Buxar?

• The Battle of Buxar was fought on 22 and 23 October 1764.
• It was fought at Buxar, a “strong fortified town” within the territory of Bihar.
• The battle was ended by the Treaty of Allahabad in 1765.

Combatants

• English Forces were Led by Major Hector Munro, these forces represented the British East India Company.
• Mir Kasim, the Nawab of Bengal, allied with the Nawab of Awadh, Shuja-ud-daulah, and the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II.

Result

• On October 22, 1764, the English forces, led by Major Hector Munro, achieved a significant victory at Buxar.
• The combined armies of Mir Kasim, the Nawab of Awadh, and Shah Alam II were defeated in a closely contested battle.
• This battle held great significance as it marked the defeat of both the Nawab of Bengal and the Mughal Emperor of India by the English.
• The outcome of the battle established the English as a dominant power in northern India and contenders for supremacy throughout the entire country.

Aftermath (Outcome)

The outcome of the Battle of Buxar had profound consequences for the power dynamics in India:

• In 1763, Mir Jafar became the Nawab due to strained relations between Mir Kasim and the Company.
• Mir Jafar agreed to give the English the districts of Midnapore, Burdwan, and Chittagong to support their army.
• The English were allowed to engage in duty-free trade in Bengal.
  • Exception: two per cent salt duty.
• After Mir Jafar’s death, his minor son Najimud-daula became the Nawab, but the English held the true administrative power.
  • The English had the authority to appoint or remove the naib-subahdar, who acted as the deputy governor.

What is the Treaty of Allahabad (1765)?

• In August 1765, Robert Clive signed two significant treaties in Allahabad.
• The first treaty was made with the Nawab of Awadh and the second with the Mughal Emperor, Shah Alam II.
• Treaty with Nawab of Awadh:
  • As part of the treaty, Nawab Shuja-ud-Daula agreed to surrender Allahabad and Kara to Emperor Shah Alam II.
  • The Nawab also agreed to pay the Company Rs 50 lakh as war indemnity.
  • Additionally, Balwant Singh, the Zamindar of Banaras, was given full possession of his estate.
• Treaty with Mughal Emperor:
  • Shah Alam II, on the other hand, agreed to reside in Allahabad under the Company’s protection.
  • The emperor issued a farman granting the Diwani of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa to the East India Company.
  • In return, the Company paid an annual amount of Rs 26 lakh to the Emperor.
  • The Company also received Rs 53 lakh from Shah Alam II for their nizamat functions in the said provinces.
• Clive decided against annexing Awadh to avoid the responsibility of protecting a large land frontier.
• The treaty strengthened the friendship between the Nawab and the Company and turned Awadh into a buffer state.
• Clive’s arrangement with Shah Alam II made the Emperor a figurehead for the Company’s actions.
• The Emperor’s farman legalized the Company’s political gains in Bengal.
• Mir Kasim, the former Nawab of Bengal, lived a miserable life as a homeless wanderer and passed away in June 1777.

Conclusion

The aftermath of the Battle of Buxar reshaped India’s landscape. The victory of the English established them as a dominant force and paved the way for significant treaties like the Treaty of Allahabad. Mir Kasim’s fate plunged into despair, ending as a forgotten wanderer.

Ref: Source-1

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