Best History Notes on Battle of Buxar available for BPSC and for other Competitive Exams aspirants in 2025
History of Bihar-11
Here is a detailed explanation of the Battle of Buxar (1764)—a decisive event in Indian history that marked the beginning of formal British rule in India, especially in Bihar and Bengal.
Battle of Buxar (1764)
Background of the Battle of Buxar (1764)-• Fought on 22 October 1764
The British East India Company had initially hoped that Mir Kasim, the Nawab of Bengal, would be a compliant and subordinate ruler. However, Mir Kasim proved to be assertive and independent, resisting the Company’s dominance.
- Conflict with Ram Narayan: Tensions arose when Ram Narayan, the Deputy Governor of Bihar, refused to submit revenue accounts to Mir Kasim. English officials in Patna supported Ram Narayan, undermining the Nawab’s authority.
- Misuse of Dastaks (Trade Permits): The Company’s misuse of dastaks, or trade permits, became a major point of contention. These permits, granted by a Mughal farman, exempted Company goods from transit duties.
- Company officials extended these privileges to their private trade, even selling dastaks to Indian traders for commissions.
- They often used coercive practices to obtain goods at unfairly low prices, harming local traders and reducing revenue for the Nawab’s administration.
- Abolition of Duties by Mir Kasim: In response to these abuses, Mir Kasim abolished internal duties altogether to create a level playing field. The British, however, protested this move and demanded preferential treatment.
These disputes escalated into armed conflict in 1763, leading to several clashes between the forces of Mir Kasim and the East India Company.
The Battle of Buxar (October 22, 1764)
The decisive confrontation occurred at Buxar where the combined forces of Mir Kasim, Shuja-ud-Daula (Nawab of Awadh), and Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II faced the British army under Major Hector Munro.
- The English had already scored victories at Katwah, Murshidabad, Giria, Sooty, and Munger.
- Mir Kasim, after initial setbacks, sought refuge in Awadh and forged an alliance with Shuja-ud-Daula and Shah Alam II in a final attempt to challenge British power.
Despite stiff resistance, the allied forces were decisively defeated by the British at Buxar. The battle was short but crucial in establishing British dominance in northern India.
Consequences and Significance
The Battle of Buxar had far-reaching consequences:
1. Establishment of British Supremacy
- The victory solidified the English East India Company as a dominant power in northern India.
- The defeat of the Mughal Emperor and major regional powers signaled the end of effective indigenous resistance in Bengal and Bihar.
2. Restoration of Mir Jafar
- The British reinstated Mir Jafar as the Nawab of Bengal in 1763, after relations with Mir Kasim had deteriorated.
- He ceded the districts of Midnapore, Burdwan, and Chittagong to the Company for the maintenance of its army.
- The Company was granted duty-free trade rights, except a 2% duty on salt.
3. Real Power in British Hands
- After Mir Jafar’s death, his minor son Najim-ud-daula became Nawab.
- However, real administrative control remained with the naib-subahdar, who was appointed and removed at the Company’s discretion.
- This marked the complete subordination of the Bengal Nawabs to British authority.
The Treaty of Allahabad (1765)
Following the Battle of Buxar, Robert Clive concluded two important treaties at Allahabad in August 1765—one with Shuja-ud-Daula, and the other with Shah Alam II.
Treaty with Shuja-ud-Daula (Nawab of Awadh)
- Agreed to:
- Cede Allahabad and Kara to Shah Alam II.
- Pay the Company ₹50 lakh as war indemnity.
- Confirm the estate of Balwant Singh, Zamindar of Banaras, under Company control.
Treaty with Shah Alam II (Mughal Emperor)
- Agreed to:
- Reside in Allahabad, a city placed under the Company’s protection.
- Grant a farman awarding the Diwani (revenue rights) of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa to the Company.
- Receive an annual payment of ₹26 lakh from the Company.
- Provide ₹53 lakh to the Company to cover Nizamat functions (military, policing, and administration of justice).
Robert Clive’s Strategic Approach
- Clive chose not to annex Awadh, preferring to maintain it as a buffer state to safeguard Bengal from possible Afghan or Maratha invasions.
- He retained Shah Alam II as a symbolic figurehead, leveraging the emperor’s farman to legitimize the Company’s political and economic dominance.
Consequences of the Battle:
| Impact | Description |
| British Supremacy | Marked the start of British political control in India |
| Treaty of Allahabad (1765) | Signed between Robert Clive and Shah Alam II |
| Diwani Rights | British East India Company received Diwani (right to collect revenue) of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa from Shah Alam II |
| Awadh as buffer state | Shuja-ud-Daulah retained Awadh but had to pay a heavy fine and became a British ally |
| End of Mughal control | Mughal emperor became a pensioner of the British, symbolizing the collapse of Mughal sovereignty |
Significance of the Battle of Buxar:
| Factor | Importance |
| Political | Established British control over Bihar and Bengal legally through Diwani rights |
| Mughal Decline | Showed the irrelevance of Mughal authority in the face of British power |
| Company Rule | Transition from trade company to territorial power began here |
| Long-Term | Paved the way for colonial administration, Permanent Settlement, and later direct British Crown rule (1858) |
Conclusion
The Battle of Buxar was a turning point in Indian history. Unlike the Battle of Plassey (1757), which brought Bengal under indirect Company control, Buxar legitimized direct British authority through the Diwani rights. It paved the way for the Company’s transition from traders to rulers, laying the foundation of British imperialism in India.
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