Battle of Buxar (1764): How One Battle Made the British a Major Power in India

The Battle of Buxar took place in the year 1764 and it is one of the most important battles which contributed to the growth of the British Empire in India. While the Battle of Plassey in the year 1757 made the East India Company a major player in the Bengal politics, the Battle of Buxar helped the Company transform the influence in the region into a greater political and administrative power.

The battle witnessed the British East India Company face a coalition of the powerful enemies. The alliance that included Mir Qasim, the Nawab of Bengal, Shuja-ud-Daula, the Nawab of Awadh, and Shah Alam II, the Mughal emperor. The British won under Major Hector Munro and established a new balance of power in the northern part of India.

However, the effects of the battle extended far beyond the battlefield. In particular, as a result of the Battle of Buxar, the British got the Diwani rights to collect revenue in Bengal, Bihar and Orissa through the Treaty of Allahabad signed in 1765. It marked the beginning of the territorial administration of the Company in the regions and contributed to the growth of the Company as a political force.

Background to the Battle of Buxar

The causes of the Battle of Buxar are related to the increasing disagreements between the British East India Company and Mir Qasim who became Nawab of Bengal in 1760.

The British believed that Mir Qasim would be dependent on them. Nevertheless, he decided to consolidate the power in the region and limit British interference in its affairs.

In particular, Mir Qasim wanted the Company to cease using dastaks to do business in Bengal. It was a problem because the East India Company had received the privilege of duty-free trade. However, the officials began to use the right for the Company and Indian merchants’ benefit.

Abolishment of internal duties by Mir Qasim

Mir Qasim reacted by abolishing all kinds of internal duties. He did this in an attempt to level the playing ground for Indian traders as well as traders from the Company.

However, the British were not happy with his move as they would not be able to enjoy their trade privileges. It soon turned into a military conflict which occurred in 1763.

Finally, Mir Qasim was defeated in several battles and ran away from the battlefields. At Awadh, he united with Shuja-ud-Daula and Shah Alam II to form an alliance against the rising power of the East India Company.

It would end up in a war called the Battle of Buxar.

Battle of Buxar 1764

On 22 October 1764, the battle took place in Buxar, Bihar.

The allied armies of Mir Qasim, Shuja-ud-Daula and Shah Alam II fought with the army of the East India Company under Major Hector Munro.

Even though it was a battle between the army with large numbers of soldiers on both sides, the Company troops emerged victorious. This proved to the world that even with an alliance of Nawab of Bengal, Nawab of Awadh and the Mughal Emperor, the East India Company could challenge any opposition.

The significance of the Battle of Buxar thus went beyond its immediate outcome.

Was the Battle of Buxar More Significant than that of Plassey?

The Battle of Plassey in 1757 and that of Buxar in 1764 have been associated with each other, but have had distinct consequences.

While the Battle of Plassey gave the Company an opportunity to establish its dominance in Bengal by engaging in politics and forming a coalition with dissatisfied persons in the court of Siraj-ud-Daulah,

the Battle of Buxar showed the Company’s military strength and dominance against a powerful political alliance. The consequences of this battle included granting to the Company the right to collect revenue from extensive lands.

To summarize, Plassey made a way for political influence of the British, while Buxar helped the Company to establish its political and economic dominance.

Consequences of the Battle of Buxar

The consequences of the Battle of Buxar came clear in 1765 when Robert Clive concluded a series of settlements with Shuja-ud-Daula and Shah Alam II in Allahabad.

According to the agreement with Shah Alam II, the Mughal Emperor granted to the East India Company the Diwani right of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. It means that the Company received the authority to collect revenue from these regions.

It was significant, because revenue formed the basis for political and military power. With the revenue from Bengal, the Company could sustain its administration and army and extend further its territories.

Also, this settlement is connected with Clive’s policy of not annexing Awadh, but leaving it as a buffer state.

What Was Dual Government of Bengal?

When the Diwani was acquired by Robert Clive, the dual government of Bengal came into existence.

This means that the Company had control over the Diwani, which included revenue collection, while the Nawab was supposed to look after the Nizamat, including administration, law and order, and criminal justice.

It meant that the system had the Nawab as the nominal ruler, whereas the Company had all the financial as well as military power.

Thus the Company could exercise authority without assuming full responsibility for administration at once.

However, the problem with this arrangement was serious.

Problem With the Dual Government

The dual government meant an administrative vacuum. The Company collected revenue but did not assume any responsibility for welfare and administration of the subjects, while the Nawab did not have financial and military power to rule effectively.

Moreover, the officials of the Company were increasingly misusing their commercial powers.

The Indian merchants could not compete with the Company officials, while the industries of Bengal were being exploited. The artisans were under pressure for production, prices and quality of the products, and agricultural communities were under pressure for revenue collection.

In this way the system led to deterioration of administration as well as economic hardship in Bengal.

One of the results of this situation was the Bengal famine of 1770, in which thousands of people died.

Abolition of Dual Government by Warren Hastings

Dual Government system existed till 1772, when Warren Hastings took steps to abolish dual government.

Company assumed direct responsibility for revenue administration and even became directly involved in civil and criminal administration.

Nawab lost much of his powers and became a puppet in hands of the Company. Thus, Company became the dominant political power in Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.

Consequently, the process that started at the Battle of Plassey and gained momentum at the Battle of Buxar came to fruition with Company becoming direct ruler.

Significance of the Battle of Buxar

Battle of Buxar proved to be the turning point of Indian history, as it made East India Company from the commercial company into the political power.

The most significant result of Buxar was the Company receiving Diwani of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. The ability to collect the revenue provided financial base to have army and to spread the British power.

Moreover, the Battle of Buxar diminished the authority of Mughal Emperor and regional rulers, as Company managed to defeat such powerful alliance.

However, most significant consequence of Buxar was the creation of conditions for the Company further expansion.