When and Between Whom Was the Battle of Buxar Fought? What Was Its Background?🔗

Zoom in if the image is unclear.

The Battle of Buxar took place on October 22, 1764, near Buxar in Bihar, along the Ganges River. It pitted the British East India Company against a coalition of the Nawab of Bengal, Mir Qasim, the Nawab of Awadh, Shuja-ud-Daula, and the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II.

Background:

• Battle of Plassey (1757): After defeating Siraj-ud-Daula, the British installed Mir Jafar as Bengal's Nawab. He was a puppet ruler but couldn't keep up with the Company's growing demands.

• Mir Qasim's Rise: Frustrated with Mir Jafar, the British replaced him with his son-in-law, Mir Qasim. A capable leader, Mir Qasim shifted his capital from Murshidabad to Munger, modernized his army, and abolished internal trade duties—leveling the field for Indian merchants against the British.

• Clash with the British: These reforms irked the Company, whose trade privileges took a hit. In 1763, they ousted Mir Qasim and reinstated Mir Jafar, sparking tensions.

• Mir Qasim's Alliance: Ousted but defiant, Mir Qasim teamed up with Shuja-ud-Daula of Awadh and Shah Alam II, the Mughal Emperor, to challenge British dominance.

Zoom in if the image is unclear.

---

What Were the Main Causes of the Battle of Buxar? Explain in Detail.🔗

The battle brewed from a mix of power struggles and economic friction:

• Power Struggle: Mir Qasim wanted to rule Bengal independently, while the British aimed to keep him under their thumb—a classic tug-of-war for control.

• Economic Friction:

  • Misuse of Dastak: A 1717 Mughal decree gave the British duty-free trade rights in Bengal via "dastaks." They abused this perk, undercutting Bengal's revenue and local traders.
  • Abolition of Duties: Mir Qasim scrapped all internal trade taxes, putting Indian merchants on par with the British. This slashed Company profits, fueling their resentment.

• Mir Qasim's Reforms: His efforts to strengthen administration and the military—moving his capital and building a robust army—rattled the British, who saw him as a growing threat.

• British Expansionism: The Company wasn't content with influence; they wanted total control over Bengal and beyond, part of their broader imperial ambitions in India.

Zoom in if the image is unclear.

---

Who Were the Key Figures in the Battle of Buxar, and What Were Their Roles?🔗

• British East India Company:

  • Major Hector Munro: Led the British forces with sharp tactics and disciplined troops, securing victory.
  • Robert Clive: Not in the battle itself, but his earlier Plassey win and post-Buxar diplomacy (Treaty of Allahabad) shaped its fallout.

• Indian Coalition:

  • Mir Qasim: Ex-Nawab of Bengal, the rebellion's spark, rallying the alliance against British overreach.
  • Shuja-ud-Daula: Nawab of Awadh, lent military muscle to the fight.
  • Shah Alam II: Mughal Emperor, a symbolic figurehead whose backing gave the coalition legitimacy.

---

What Was the Course of the Battle of Buxar?🔗

• The Indian coalition—Mir Qasim, Shuja-ud-Daula, and Shah Alam II—massed their forces at Buxar.
• On October 22, 1764, Major Hector Munro's British army attacked.
• The Indians had numbers, but the British had superior weapons, training, and coordination.
• The battle ended in hours with a decisive British win.
• Mir Qasim fled, while Shuja-ud-Daula and Shah Alam II surrendered.

---

What Were the Consequences of the Battle of Buxar? Explain the Treaty of Allahabad in Detail.🔗

Consequences:

• British Dominance: Buxar cemented the Company as North India's top power.
• Control Over Bengal: They gained full sway over Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa.
• Mughal Submission: Shah Alam II became a British pensioner, his empire a shadow.
• Mir Jafar Restored: The British reinstated Mir Jafar as a compliant puppet Nawab.

Treaty of Allahabad (1765): Robert Clive sealed the victory with two agreements:

• With Shuja-ud-Daula:

  • Awadh stayed his, but Allahabad and Kora went to Shah Alam II.
  • He paid 50 lakh rupees as war reparations to the British.
  • Banaras' zamindar, Balwant Singh, got his estate back.

• With Shah Alam II:

  • He lived in Allahabad under British protection.
  • He granted the British the Diwani (revenue rights) of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa.
  • In return, the Company promised him 26 lakh rupees annually as a pension.

Zoom in if the image is unclear.

---

What Impact Did the Battle of Buxar Have on Indian History?🔗

• Colonial Rule's Roots: Buxar laid the groundwork for British colonial dominance in India.
• Indian Powers' Decline: It exposed the fragility of the Mughals and regional rulers.
• Economic Drain: British exploitation of Bengal's resources began in earnest, bleeding India's economy.
• Political Chaos: The power vacuum post-Buxar fueled instability, which the British exploited to expand further.

Buxar wasn't just a battle—it was a turning point that handed India's reins to the East India Company.

---

Zoom in if the image is unclear.

---