Military Institute of Science and

Technology
 
Naval Architecture and Marine
Engineering Department
 
Course Code: GEBS 101
Course Title: Bangladesh Studies
British Rule in Indian
Subcontinent
(1757 A.D. - 1900 A.D.)
Lecture Outcome
• British Rule in Indian Subcontinent
Arrival of Europeans and rule of British East India Company
Resistance, Renaissance and Reform Movement in Bengal during British Rule
Movement for Right to Self Determination in Bengal During British Period
The first stage of English rule in Bengal
Arrival of the Europeans
• In 1453 the Automaan Turkish occupied Constantinople. As a result, trade and commerce
between Europe and the subcontinent by sea came to an end.
• Basically, this is the reason for which the European powers started expedients by sea to come
to this subcontinent.
Portuguese
• The daring sailor who first came to this subcontinent by sea was Vasco-da-Gama. He arrived
at Kalikot port on the western coast of India on 27 May in 1498.
• In 1538 they got permission to set up duty base in Chittagong and Satgoan.
• The Portuguese were involved in many misdeeds and piracy.
• Saesta Khan, the Subedar of Bengal drove them away by occupying their bases of Chittagong.
The first stage of English rule in Bengal
Dutch
• The Dutch formed 'Dutch East-India Company' and came to this subcontinent for
the purpose of business in 1602.
• They left this subcontinent ater closing their business in 1805.
Danish
• The Danish formed ‘Danish East-India Company' and came to this subcontinent
for the purpose of business in 1620.
• In 1845 they sold their commercial offices to the English and left this country.
The first stage of English rule in Bengal
English
• A certificate from Queen Elizabeth in 1600 to conduct monopoly business in the East.
• Permission from Emperor Jahangir for business in 1608.
• Commercial offices in Kashimbazar, Dhaka,Maldah and Hoogly in 1658.
• Bombay as dowry of marriage in 1668.
• Fort William after the name of the king of England, William III in 1700 in Kolkata.
• Right of duty free trade in Bengal, Bombay and Madras from Delhi emperor
Farukshiar. At the same time the company got the right of introducing their own
currency. English historian Urme referred to this order of the emperor as the
‘Magna-Carta’ of the East India Company.
The first stage of English rule in Bengal
French
• French East India Company, formed in 1664, set up the commercial offices first in
Surat in 1668.
• In 1674 they expanded commercial activities in Bengal.
• Clash with English and British East India Company.
• The French company left this country after being defeated in the battles of
Karnatak of Deccan.
The first stage of English rule in Bengal
The Battle of Polashy
Reasons:
• No gift for the new Nawab after Sirjuddoula ascended to the throne of Bengal.
• They kept building fort despite Nawab’s prohibition.
• Abuse of the Nawab’s summons.
• The English refused to pay tax by infringing the conditions of the agreement with
Alibardi Khan.
• The manners of arrogance and disobedience of the English one after another.
The first stage of English rule in Bengal
The Battle of Polashy
• Nawab occupied fort William in 1756.
• Propaganda by English man Hallwel to debase the Nawab (Andhakup Hattya).
• Defeat of Manikchand, the chief of Nawab’s army.
• Disgraceful Alinagar Treaty.
• The Battle of Polassy took place on 23 June, 1757, on the bank of river
Bhagirathi.
• Nawab’s army was supported by Mirmadan, Mohonlal and French chief of army
Sean Frey.
• Conspiracy of Mirzafar.
The first stage of English rule in Bengal
The causes of the fall of Nawab
• Treachery and non-cooperation of army chief of Nawab and their abettors in the
battle field.
• Young Nawab was deficient of experience, prudence, intelligence and steadiness.
• Sirajuddoula did not evaluate the warning and advice of Alibardi Khan about the
conspiracy of the English.
• The enemies of Nawab were united and their fighting strategy was developed.
• Robert Clive had prudence, subtlety and cunning.
The first stage of English rule in Bengal
The results of the battle of Polashy
• Eased the way to the direct colonial rule.
• Mirzafar was made to ascend to the throne; but Robert Clive held the actual power.
• English got the right of conducting monopoly business in Bengal.
• The French was bound to leave this country.
• After this battle socio-economic and political changes of this country started to take
place in favor of the interest of the English.
• The far-reaching effect of the battle of Polashy was the establishment of the rule of
the company in the subcontinent. Thus the independence of Bengal even India
wallowed on the ground.
Therefore, it is seen that the battle of Palashy though a partial battle, had unlimited
importance in the politics of Bengal even the whole subcontinent.
The first stage of English rule in Bengal
The battle of Boxar (1764)
• In 1760 English governor Vancitart deposed Mirzafar and seated Mir Kashim on
the throne on condition.
• Mir Kashim wanted to rule un-interruptedly.
• The battle of Boxer took place in a place of Bihar named Boxar in 1764.
Achieving of Dewany by the company
After the battle of Boxar, the way to the English rule in Bengal became easy. At this
time the English company got complete power to collect revenues of Bengal from
Mogul emperor. In 1765 after getting dewany, the English actually exposed
themselves as the true rulers of Bengal.
The first stage of English rule in Bengal
Dual Administration
• After achieving Dewani, the company introduced Dual Administration.
• company gained authority free from responsibility and the Nawab turned to a
powerless ruler whereas, the Nawab had to carry on full responsibility.
• There was a fearful famine in the summer of 1770 which is known in history as
‘monontor of '76’.
• One third of the people of Bengal had to face death in this famine.
• The amount of annual revenue collected from 1765 to 1770 was nearly
equivalent to the revenue collected in the year of famine.
• In this situation in 1772 Waren Hestings did away with the Dual Administration
system.
The first stage of English rule in Bengal
Permanent Settlement
Lord Cornwallis was sent with the charge of Governor General and army chief in
1786 to make the administration corruption free and organized. He introduced
permanent settlement or permanent land system in 1793. On 22 March of the
same year he gave permanent possession to the Zeminders of Bengal, Bihar and
Orissa on their land. This settlement of land is called Permanent Settlement.

As a result of the Permanent Settlement, farmers started to be directly exploited

by the Zeminders. Again with the patronage of this Zeminder class, an educated
class was formed in the rural society who in the later periods became conscious
about the country and nation.
Resistance, Renaissance and Reform Movement
in Bengal during British Rule
• At first the Company destroyed the cottage industry of the villages of Bengal.
Then they cast their sight on the fertile land of this country.
• The farmers and the general people were the cruel sacrifice of these
experiments. As a result, victims of severe exploitation, helpless farmers and
general people had no other alternative but to revolt.
• This revolt continued from the end of the 18th century to the second half of the
19th century.
• This change was started by farmers, the general people of Bengal.
Resistance, Renaissance and Reform Movement
in Bengal during British Rule
Resistance Movement
• Fakir-Monk Movement (1760-1800)
• The fight of Titumir (1827-1831)
• Indigo Revolt (1859)
• Faraizi Movement
Resistance, Renaissance and Reform Movement
in Bengal during British Rule
Renaissance and Reform Movement
Renaissance
• The last half Industrial Revolution in England and blood shedding French Revolution also
influenced politics and economy of this region.
• The influence of European socio-economy and politics introduced renaissance in the
minds of the educated people of Bengal.
• This influence of renaissance itself laid the primary foundation of nationalist spirit in the
countrymen which to the last took the people of Bengal that is the Indians to the way of
independence.
• Many of the English administration headed by Hestings, Alfinstone, Malcolm Monroe,
Metkaf thought it is their moral and humanistic duty and responsibility to revive the
people of India with western trends of thought, and scientific knowledge and philosophy.
Resistance, Renaissance and Reform Movement
in Bengal during British Rule
Renaissance and Reform Movement
• Raja Rammohan Roy
• Dirogio and Young Bengal Movement
• Iswarchandra Vidyasagar
• Hazi Mohammad Mohsin
• Nawab Abdul Latif
• Syed Ameer Ali
• Begum Rokeya
Movement for Right to Self Determination in
Bengal During British Period
• The Bengalese never accepted the foreign English rulers.
• The soldiers and the kings (or feudal lords) of the country declared the
independence of the country after a hundred years.
• The young people educated in the western manner raised a great movement for
independence and right to self determination.
• In the struggles for independence and self governance of the subcontinent the
Bengalese played the most dignified role.
Movement for Right to Self Determination in
Bengal During British Period
The independence struggle in 1857
• The great armed movement led mainly by the common soldiers or sipahis which
developed in the Northern and Eastern parts of India a hundred of years after the
war at Palashi is called the first independence movement of India.
• Long political and economic injustice, social dishonor, violation of the religious
sentiment, and above all, a disparity towards the Indian soldiers- all these created
the background of great mutiny or the first independence struggle.
Movement for Right to Self Determination in
Bengal During British Period
The reasons behind the first independence struggle
• Political
• Economic
• Social and religious
• Military
The direct reason behind the mutiny was the attack on the religious belief of the
soldiers.
Movement for Right to Self Determination in
Bengal During British Period
The significance of the first struggle for independence
• This mutiny had an instant significance. This ended the rule of the Company.
The British government took over the responsibility of ruling India itself.
• The Abolition of Right Law and its related rules were declared null and void on 1
• November 1858 by a proclamation of Queen Victoria.
• It also ensured the employment of the Indians, and their religious freedom as
well as an amnesty for the mutineers.
• Bahadur Shah II was exiled in Rengun (Myanmar)
• A long-term impact of this mutiny was that the grievance did not stop. People
became conscious in the consequence of this mutiny and the English rule ended
in 1947 after various movements and struggles.
Partition of Bengal (1905-1911)
• Background of Partition of Bengal (16 Oct 1905)
• Causes of Partition of Bengal
• Administrative Reason
• Socio-economic Reason
• Political Reason
• The Reactions to the Partition
Movement for Right to Self Determination in
Bengal During British Period
• Swadeshi Movement
• Khilafat and Non-cooperation Movement
• The Armed Movement in Bengal (1911-1930)
• Bengal Pact (Dec, 1923)
• Lahore Resolution
• Cripp’s Mission
• Cabinet Mission
• Indian Independence Act 1947
• Partition of Indian Sub Continent