Oxford Solutions for ICSE Class 8 History Civics Chapter 7 Rise Of British Power In Bengal

EXERCISES

A. Fill the in the blanks:

Question 1: Madras, Bombay and Calcutta became the headquarters of the British settlements in the southern, western and eastern regions, respectively.
Answer: Madras, Bombay and Calcutta
These three cities served as the primary hubs for British trade and administration in India. They were strategically located on the coast to allow easy access for British ships.
Teacher's Tip: Remember the acronym "MBC" to easily recall the three major presidency towns.
Exam Tip: Always mention the regions (southern, western, and eastern) to get full marks.

Question 2: In 1717, the Mughal emperor granted the United East India Company the right to carry on duty-free trade in Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.
Answer: Bengal, Bihar and Orissa
This privilege allowed the British to trade without paying the local taxes that Indian merchants had to pay. It gave the Company a massive financial advantage and caused friction with local rulers.
Teacher's Tip: Think of "BBO" as the three states that the British targeted for trade dominance.
Exam Tip: Mention all three provinces to show complete knowledge of the Farman's scope.

Question 3: The French East India Company was established in 1664 C.E.
Answer: 1664 C.E.
The French were latecomers to the Indian trade scene compared to the Portuguese and British. Their arrival led to intense rivalry with the British over control of Indian resources.
Teacher's Tip: Remember the date by noting that the French arrived about 64 years after the English East India Company was formed.
Exam Tip: Always write "C.E." or "A.D." after a year to maintain historical accuracy.

Question 4: The British and the French fought the Carnatic Wars in India to establish their monopoly in trade.
Answer: Carnatic
The Carnatic region in South India became the main battlefield for European supremacy. These wars proved that the British had superior naval and military organization.
Teacher's Tip: Associate "Carnatic" with the fight between "Cousins" (British and French) in the South.
Exam Tip: Use the term "monopoly" to explain why these wars were fought.

Question 5: Bengal in the 18th century was the richest and the most fertile province in India.
Answer: richest and the most fertile
Bengal's wealth came from its high agricultural output and its flourishing textile industry. It was so prosperous that it was often called the "Paradise of the Earth."
Teacher's Tip: Imagine Bengal as the "Gold Mine" that every European trader wanted to own.
Exam Tip: Use both adjectives, "richest" and "fertile," to describe Bengal's importance.

Question 6: In 1757 Robert Clive recovered Calcutta which had been captured by Siraj-ud-Daulah in 1756.
Answer: 1757, 1756
Siraj-ud-Daulah captured Calcutta to stop the British from fortifying their settlements without his permission. Robert Clive led a military expedition from Madras to take the city back a year later.
Teacher's Tip: Remember that 1757 is the famous year of the Battle of Plassey.
Exam Tip: Double-check the dates to ensure you don't swap the years for capture and recovery.

Question 7: Mir Jafar was deposed because he was unable to meet the demands of the British.
Answer: British
After becoming Nawab, Mir Jafar was constantly pressured by the Company for more money and land. When his treasury ran dry, the British replaced him with his son-in-law.
Teacher's Tip: Mir Jafar was a "puppet ruler" who was discarded when he stopped being useful.
Exam Tip: Mention the financial pressure when explaining why a Nawab was deposed.

Question 8: In 1765, Awadh was returned to Shuja-ud-Daulah but Kora and Allahabad were taken away and given to Shah Alam II.
Answer: Shuja-ud-Daulah, Shah Alam II
This arrangement was part of the Treaty of Allahabad following the British victory at Buxar. It turned Awadh into a buffer state to protect British Bengal from outside attacks.
Teacher's Tip: Think of Awadh as a "shield" that the British kept under their influence.
Exam Tip: Remember the specific names of the two districts: Kora and Allahabad.

Question 9: Shah Alam II granted the Company the Diwani of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa in 1765.
Answer: Diwani, 1765
The "Diwani" gave the British the official right to collect land revenue from these three provinces. This shifted the Company from a mere trading group to a ruling political power.
Teacher's Tip: "Diwani" means the power of the "Dimes" (revenue/money).
Exam Tip: Highlight 1765 as the year the British became the financial masters of Bengal.

Question 10: Warren Hastings deposed and pensioned off the Nawab of Bengal and brought Bengal under the direct, and complete control of the Company.
Answer: direct, and complete
Warren Hastings ended the messy system of Dual Government to streamline administration. By doing this, the British East India Company became the actual sovereign of the region.
Teacher's Tip: Warren Hastings was the "Finisher" who completed the British takeover of Bengal.
Exam Tip: Use the words "direct" and "complete" to describe the final stage of Company rule.

B. Match the following:

A
1. Carnatic Wars
2. Farman
3. Robert Clive
4. Battle of Plassey
5. Battle of Buxar
6. Governor of Bengal
B
(a) Warren Hastings
(b) duty-free trade
(c) reconquered Calcutta
(d) Siraj-ud-Daulah
(e) Anglo-French rivalry
(f) Mir Qasim
Answer:
1. Carnatic Wars - (e) Anglo-French rivalry
2. Farman - (b) duty-free trade
3. Battle of Plassey - (d) Siraj-ud-Daulah
4. Robert Clive - (c) reconquered Calcutta
5. Battle of Buxar - (f) Mir Qasim
6. Governor of Bengal - (a) Warren Hastings
These matches link the major conflicts of the 18th century with the key personalities and concepts involved. For instance, the Farman was the legal document that triggered many of the disputes over trade.
Teacher's Tip: Match the battles to their specific Nawabs: Plassey for Siraj and Buxar for Mir Qasim.
Exam Tip: Present the matched pairs side-by-side rather than drawing lines for a neater answer.

C. Choose the correct answer:

Question 1: The English East India Company was established in the year 1600/1700/1800 CE.
Answer: The English East India Company was established in the year 1600.
Queen Elizabeth I granted the company a charter to trade with the East on the last day of the year 1600. This was the starting point of the British journey toward creating an empire in India.
Teacher's Tip: Remember the year 1600 as the "Sweet Start" of the British venture.
Exam Tip: "1600" is a very common objective question; memorize it along with Queen Elizabeth I.

Question 2: The English East India Company set up its first factory in Surat/Agra/Broach.
Answer: The English East India Company set up its first factory in Surat.
Surat was a vital port city on the western coast of India at that time. The permission to trade there was granted by the Mughal Emperor Jahangir.
Teacher's Tip: Think of Surat as the "Station" where the British first parked their trading ships.
Exam Tip: Don't confuse the first "factory" (Surat) with the later "headquarters" (Presidencies).

Question 3: The largest and the most prosperous European settlement in Bengal was the British settlement at Calcutta/Burdwan/ Murshidabad.
Answer: The largest and the most prosperous European settlement in Bengal was the British settlement at Calcutta.
Calcutta grew from three small villages into a massive city that eventually became the capital of British India. Its location on the Hooghly river made it perfect for large-scale maritime trade.
Teacher's Tip: Calcutta was the "Crown Jewel" city for the British in the East.
Exam Tip: Identify Calcutta specifically as the "European settlement" when comparing it to Indian capitals like Murshidabad.

Question 4: Alivardi Khan was succeeded by Mir Qasim/Siraj-ud-Daulah/Shuja-ud-Daula.
Answer: Alivardi Khan was succeeded by Siraj-ud-Daulah.
Siraj-ud-Daulah was the grandson of Alivardi Khan and inherited a difficult situation with the British. His short reign was marked by conflict and the famous Battle of Plassey.
Teacher's Tip: Siraj was the "Successor" who had to face the "Storm" of the British.
Exam Tip: Remember that Siraj-ud-Daulah was the last independent Nawab of Bengal.

Question 5: Robert Clive hatched a plot with Mir Jafar/Mir Qasim/ Alivardi Khan to replace Siraj-ud-Daulah.
Answer: Robert Clive hatched a plot with Mir Jafar to replace Siraj-ud-Daulah.
Mir Jafar was the commander of Siraj's army but secretly agreed not to fight during the Battle of Plassey. In exchange, the British promised to make him the next Nawab.
Teacher's Tip: This plot is one of the most famous acts of "betrayal" in Indian history.
Exam Tip: Mir Jafar is the key name associated with the conspiracy against Siraj-ud-Daulah.

Question 6: The Battle of Plassey was fought in 1757/1764/1772.
Answer: The Battle of Plassey was fought in 1757.
This battle was decided more by the secret deal with Mir Jafar than by actual fighting. It is considered the foundation stone of British rule in India.
Teacher's Tip: 1757 is exactly 100 years before the Great Revolt of 1857.
Exam Tip: Learn this date perfectly as it is a major turning point in modern history.

Question 7: The Dual Government in Bengal was introduced by Robert Clive/Warren Hastings/Lord Cornwallis.
Answer: The Dual Government in Bengal was introduced by Robert Clive.
Under this system, the Company had all the power and money, while the Nawab had all the responsibility for the people. This led to terrible mismanagement and suffering for the common citizens.
Teacher's Tip: "Dual" means "Double" trouble for the people of Bengal.
Exam Tip: Link Robert Clive to the "start" of the Dual system and Warren Hastings to its "end."

D. State whether the following are true or false:

Question 1: The-Carnatic Wars were fought between the British and the French.
Answer: True.
These wars were the Indian version of the global conflict between these two superpowers. The British victory eventually ended French hopes of building an empire in India.
Teacher's Tip: Think of the Carnatic Wars as a "knockout match" between Britain and France.
Exam Tip: Use "British and French" as the primary parties whenever discussing the Carnatic region.

Question 2: The employees of the Company were entitled to both private trade as well as duty-free trade.
Answer: False.
Correct: The employees of the Company were permitted to carry on private trade but they were not entitled to the Company’s privilege of duty-free trade.
Company officials often tried to cheat the government by claiming the duty-free privilege for their personal business. This corruption led to huge losses for the Nawab and eventually caused war.
Teacher's Tip: Private trade was for "Personal" pockets, but duty-free was only for the "Company."
Exam Tip: Always clarify that duty-free trade was a privilege only for the Company's official business.

Question 3: The English East India Company was given the right to issue passes or dastaks for the free movement of their goods.
Answer: True.
These "dastaks" were like modern-day toll passes that allowed Company goods to pass through checkpoints without paying fees. However, the misuse of these passes by British officials made the local rulers very angry.
Teacher's Tip: Dastaks were "Doors" to free trade for the British.
Exam Tip: Explain how "dastaks" were misused if a question asks about the causes of conflict.

Question 4: The British army was defeated in the Battle of Buxar.
Answer: False.
Correct : The British army won in the Battle of Buxar.
In 1764, the British defeated a joint force of the Nawab of Bengal, the Nawab of Awadh, and the Mughal Emperor. This victory made them the undisputed masters of North India.
Teacher's Tip: Buxar was a "Big Win" that confirmed the results of Plassey.
Exam Tip: Remember that Buxar was a military victory, unlike Plassey which was won by a plot.

Question 5: The Treaty of Allahabad was signed between the British Company and Mir Qasim.
Answer: False.
Correct: The Treaty of Allahabad was signed between the British and Shuja-ud-Daulah.
(Note: The textbook correction also mentions the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II). This treaty followed the Battle of Buxar and settled the political status of Awadh and the Mughal Emperor. It gave the British legal control over Bengal's finances.
Teacher's Tip: Allahabad was where the British "Authorized" their control over India.
Exam Tip: Mention Shuja-ud-Daulah and Shah Alam II as the parties involved with the British.

Question 6: Warren Hastings laid the foundation of an organized system of government in Bengal.
Answer: True.
Warren Hastings stopped the chaos of the Dual Government and established a proper civil service and court system. He was the first Governor-General of India and centralized the Company's power.
Teacher's Tip: Warren Hastings was the "Architect" of the modern Indian administration.
Exam Tip: Identify Warren Hastings as the one who brought "organization" after the chaos of Clive's system.

E. Answer the following questions in one or two words/ sentences:

Question 1: Who granted the English East India Company the exclusive right to trade with the East ?
Answer: The Queen of England, Elizabeth I, granted the Company the exclusive right to trade with the East.
She issued a royal charter in 1600 which meant no other English trading group could compete with the East India Company. This monopoly allowed the Company to grow very powerful and wealthy.
Teacher's Tip: Think of Queen Elizabeth I as the "Mother" of the East India Company.
Exam Tip: Use the name "Elizabeth I" specifically to ensure accuracy.

Question 2: Name the British trading settlements in (a) Madras (b) Calcutta.
Answer: (a) Madras was given to the British by a local ruler. They established a trading settlement which they fortified and named Fort St. George. (b) Calcutta In 1690 CE, a British trading settlement was established and fortified in Calcutta. It was named Fort William.
These forts were built to protect British goods and soldiers from local attacks and rival European powers. They eventually became the nuclei of the three great presidency towns of British India.
Teacher's Tip: Match "St. George" to the South (Madras) and "William" to the East (Calcutta).
Exam Tip: Always include the names of the forts when asked about the settlements.

Question 3: What important right did the Mughal emperor Farrukhsiyar grant the English East India Company ?
Answer: In 1717, the Mughal Emperor, Farrukhsiyar, granted the Company the right to carry on duty-free trade in Bengal, Bihar and Orissa (now Odisha). The Company made enormous profits.
This privilege meant the Company didn't have to pay customs duties, saving them huge amounts of money. It was this specific right that led to many of the later conflicts with the Nawabs of Bengal.
Teacher's Tip: Farrukhsiyar's "Farman" was the greatest gift the British ever received from a Mughal.
Exam Tip: State that the right was for "duty-free trade" to get full marks.

Question 4: Why were European traders attracted to the Bengal province in the 18th century?
Answer: Bengal was the richest and the most fertile province in India at that time. It was known as the paradise of the earth and this province attracted traders from many European countries.
Its high production of goods like silk, cotton, and saltpetre made it a goldmine for international trade. European nations competed fiercely to set up their own trading posts in this wealthy region.
Teacher's Tip: Bengal was like a "Supermarket of Wealth" for the world.
Exam Tip: Use the phrase "paradise of the earth" to describe Bengal's appeal.

Question 5: What privileges did the farman of 1717 confer on the English East India Company?
Answer: By the ‘Farman” of 1717, the English East India company was granted the right to carry on duty-free trade in Bengal. They were allowed to export and import goods from and to Bengal without paying any taxes to the government. They were given the right to issue passes or dastaks for the free movement of their goods.
The Farman basically made the British exempt from the laws that applied to other merchants. This special status allowed them to undersell their competitors and drain wealth from the region.
Teacher's Tip: The Farman was like an "All-Access Pass" to India's wealth.
Exam Tip: Mention "dastaks" as a key privilege granted under this Farman.

Question 6: Why did the farman of 1717 become a bone of contention between the nawabs of Bengal and the British Company?
Answer: The Nawabs of Bengal wanted British company to pay taxes on trade like the Indians. But the Britishers refused to do so. This created conflict between both the parties and resulted in wars between both of them.
The Nawabs felt it was unfair that foreigners were making more profit than local traders while paying zero taxes. This loss of tax revenue made it difficult for the Nawabs to run their government and maintain their army.
Teacher's Tip: A "bone of contention" is something people fight over, like two dogs and one bone.
Exam Tip: Focus on the "loss of tax revenue" for the Nawab as the main cause of the fight.

Question 7: Why did the British fortify their trade settlement in Calcutta?
Answer: Siraj-ud-Daulah ordered the British to pay taxes to him like all other Indian merchants. The British refused to do so. This angered the young nawab. In anticipation of a war with the French, who had a trading settlement in Chandemagore, the British began to fortify Calcutta.
They built walls and positioned guns to defend their profits from both the local ruler and their European rivals. This act of building fortifications without the Nawab's permission was seen as a direct challenge to his authority.
Teacher's Tip: Fortification is like building a "Fence with Guns" around your shop.
Exam Tip: Mention the rivalry with the French as a reason why the British started building forts.

Question 8: Why did Siraj-ud-Daulah attack Calcutta in 1756?
Answer: When the Britishers tried to fortify Calcutta, Siraj-ud-Daulah ordered both the British and the French to dismantle their fortifcations and not to fight private wars on his territory. The French agreed but the British refused. This enraged the Nawab and he attacked Calcutta’ with a large army and captured Fort William.
The Nawab wanted to show that he was the master of his own land and that no foreigner could disobey his laws. The British refusal to stop building was the final insult that triggered the military action.
Teacher's Tip: Siraj-ud-Daulah was a young and proud ruler who would not tolerate being ignored.
Exam Tip: Highlight the British refusal to "dismantle fortifications" as the direct cause of the attack.

Question 9: What important trading right was granted to the English East India Company after their victory in the Battle of Plassey?
Answer: 1. The English East India Company was granted die undisputed right to free trade in Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. 2. The Company was given die zamindari of the 24 Parganas.
Winning at Plassey meant the British no longer had to ask for permission; they simply took what they wanted. The land grant of the 24 Parganas gave them their first real territory and a steady source of rent income.
Teacher's Tip: Plassey was the moment the "Traders" became "Tax Collectors."
Exam Tip: Make sure to name "24 Parganas" as the specific land given to the Company.

Question 10: State the political significance of the Battle of Buxar.
Answer: 1. It gave them political influence and control over Awadh and the Mughal emperor. 2. It laid the foundation of British rule in India.
Buxar proved that the British military could defeat the combined forces of the most powerful rulers in India. This victory forced the Mughal Emperor to officially recognize British power through a legal treaty.
Teacher's Tip: Buxar turned the British from regional players into national masters.
Exam Tip: Use the phrase "foundation of British rule" to describe Buxar's importance.

Question 11: Name the Indian signatories of the Treaty of Allahabad.
Answer: Shuja-ud-Daulah and Shah Alam II.
These two leaders were forced to sign the treaty after losing the Battle of Buxar. Their signatures gave the British legal authority over the richest part of India.
Teacher's Tip: Remember the "Two S's" - Shuja and Shah Alam.
Exam Tip: Be careful with the spelling of "Shuja-ud-Daulah" to distinguish him from "Siraj-ud-Daulah."

Question 12: In which year was the Dual Government abolished and by whom?
Answer: In 1772, Warren Hastings abolished die Dual Government
Warren Hastings realized the system was causing the complete collapse of Bengal's economy. He took over the administration directly to stop the corruption and save the Company's profits.
Teacher's Tip: Think of 1772 as the year the British decided to rule India properly.
Exam Tip: Link the "Abolition" specifically to Warren Hastings.

F. Answer the following questions briefly:

Question 1: The Battle of Plassey was a major turning point in the history of India. In this context answer the following questions:
(a) Give an account of the events leading from the conspiracy to replace Siraj-ud-Daulah to his eventual defeat in the Battle of Plassey.
(b) State the results of the Battle of Plassey.
(c) Why is this battle considered a major turning point in the history of India?
Answer: (a) A major part of the nawab’s army under the command of Mir Jafar did not take any part in die battle. Realizing that he had been betrayed, the nawab fled from the battlefield .He was captured and put to death.
(b) Results of Battle of Plasey:
1. The English East India Company was granted the undisputed right to free trade in Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.
2. The Company was given the zamindari of the 24 parganas.
3. Mir Jafar paid the Company and its officials over 300 lakh rupees.
(c) The Battle of Plassey was a major turning point in the history of India.
1. It paved the way for the establishment of British rule in Bengal and, eventually, the rest of India.
2. It transformed a trading company into a political power.
3. It provided the British the vast resources of Bengal, which helped them to win the Third camatic war and other expeditions in India.
The Battle of Plassey was won through a secret deal rather than a fair fight, but it changed everything. It gave the British their first piece of Indian land and enough money to fight and defeat all their future rivals.
Teacher's Tip: Plassey was the "key" that unlocked the door to the British Empire in India.
Exam Tip: Break your answer into parts (a), (b), and (c) to ensure you address all parts of the question.

Question 2: Mir Qasim was a competent ruler, determined to free himself from foreign control. In this context answer the following:
(a) What steps did Mir Qasim take to strengthen his position? Why did he abolish all duties on internal trade?
(b) Trace the events from the outbreak of war (1763) between Mir Qasim and the British up to the Battle of Buxar in 1764.
(c) Explain the importance of the Battle of Buxar.
Answer: (a) To strengthen his position, Mir Qasim improved the financial position of Bengal and raised a modem, disciplined and well-equipped army trained by the Europeans. The employers of the company misused their trade privileges. They sold their duty-free trade points to Indian merchants who also used them to carry on duty-free trade. This deprived the Nawab fo large revenues. To put an end to the corrupt practices of the British, Mir Qasim abolished all duties on internal trade.
(b) The employees of the Company misused their trade privileges. They sold their duty-free trade permits to Indian merchants who also used them to carry on duty-free trade. This deprived the nawab of large revenues and was unfair to those local merchants who had to pay heavy duties. ” To put an end to the corrupt practices of the British, Mir Qasim abolished all duties on internal trade. This made the British furious. They refused to accept an equal status with j the Indian merchants. In 1763, war broke out between Mir Qasim and the British. The nawab was defeated. Mir Jafar was reinstated on the throne. Mir Qasim was determined to recover his throne. He escaped to Awadh, where he formed an alliance with Shuja-ud-Daulah, the nawab of Awadh, and the Mughal emperor, Shah Alam II. The combined forces of the three allies clashed with the Company’s troops at Buxar in 1764, and were decisively defeated by the British.
(c) 1. The victory of the British in the Battle of Buxar firmly established them as masters of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.
2. It gave them political influence and control over Awadh and the Mughal emperor.
3. It laid the foundation of British rule in India. 4. At this time, Robert Clive returned to India as the governor of Bengal.
Mir Qasim tried to fix the economy and build a real army to stop the British from stealing Bengal's wealth. His defeat at Buxar was the final end of Indian independence in the region, making the British the real rulers of North India.
Teacher's Tip: Mir Qasim was the most "competent" of the Later Nawabs because he actually tried to fight back fairly.
Exam Tip: Mention the "abolition of all duties" as a clever move by Mir Qasim to help local merchants.

Question 3: With reference to the Treaty of Allahabad and its impact, answer the following: (a) Mention the terms of agreement between Robert Clive and Shuja-ud-Daulah in this treaty. (b) Explain how the treaty between Robert Clive and the Mughal emperor Shah Alam II legalized the English East India’s Company’s control over Bengal. (c) Give an account of the events that followed the death of Mir Jafar, leading to the establishment of the Company as the real ruler of Bengal.
Answer:
(a) 1. Awadh was returned to Shuja-ud-Daulah. However, the two districts of Kora and Allahabad were taken away from the Nawab.
2. The nawab of Awadh had to pay a war indemnity of 50 lakh rupees to the Company.
3. The British agreed to defend the nawab of Awadh against his enemies. The nawab would have to pay for the cost of the British troops. Awadh became a buffer state between the British possessions in Bengal and the Marathas.
(b) The British gave Shah Alam II the districts of Kora and Allahabad and an annual pension of 26 lakh rupees. In return, the emperor (the nominal head of the Mughal empire) granted the Company the Diwani of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa, e., the right to collect revenue from these provinces and judge civil cases. The Company’s control over Bengal was made legal.
(c) After Mir Jafar’s death in 1765, his son was made the nawab of Bengal. He had to sign a treaty with Clive, according to which he had to disband most of his army. He also had to transfer the ‘Nizamat’ powers (general administration and criminal justice) to a deputy nawab appointed by the British. The deputy nawab could not be dismissed by the nawab. The nawab was given an allowance of 53 lakh rupees which was subsequently reduced. Thus, the English East India Company became the real ruler of Bengal from 1765.
The Treaty of Allahabad was a masterstroke by Robert Clive that turned the Mughal Emperor into a British pensioner. It made the British presence in India legal and gave them a secure border through the friendship with Awadh.
Teacher's Tip: The treaty turned the Mughal Emperor into a "Paid Employee" of the British.
Exam Tip: Mention the "Diwani rights" as the most important part of the treaty for the British.

Question 4: With reference to the establishment of Dual Government in Bengal (1765-72) answer the following:
(a) Why was the government introduced in Bengal by Robert Clive referred to as ‘Dual Government’?
(b) What were the advantages and disadvantages of this system for the Company and the nawab respectively?
(c) The evils of the Dual Government led to the collapse of the administration and the economy. Explain.
Answer:
(a) Robert Clive introduced Dual Government in Bengal in 1765.Bengal now had two masters-the nawab and the Company .The Nawab was responsible for general administration, maintenance of law and order and justice {i.e., criminal cases). The Company had military power and the right to collect and use the revenue of Bengal. This arrangement was known as Dual Government.
(b) The Company enjoyed power without any responsibilities. The Nawab, on the other hand, was burdened with the responsibility of administration without the resources necessary for running it efficiently i.e., responsibility without power. The revenue was collected by Indian officials appointed by the Company. The greed, corruption and oppression of these officials reduced the peasants to conditions of utter misery. The Company took no interest in the welfare of the people.
(c) The conditions of the people worsened when Bengal was hit by a terrible famine in which one third of the population perished. Nobody cared, neither the Company nor the Nawab, who in any case had neither the authority nor the resources to lessen the miseries of the people. The Company, through its power to nominate the deputy Nawab, only interfered in the general administration without assuming any responsibility. The evils of the Dual Government began to manifest themselves. The administration and economy collapsed. In 1772, the Court of Directors of the Company appointed Warren Hastings as the Governor of Bengal. In 1773, by the Regulating Act, he was made the Governor General of British territories in India. The Governor General was now the most important functionary of the East India Company.
Dual Government was a system where the British had all the money but no work, and the Nawab had all the work but no money. This unfair system caused a massive famine and destroyed Bengal's economy until it was finally ended by Warren Hastings.
Teacher's Tip: Dual Government was "Power without Responsibility" vs. "Responsibility without Power."
Exam Tip: Mention the "Famine of 1770" as a specific example of the failure of Dual Government.

G Picture Study:

Question 1: Identify the Mughal emperor and the British governor.
Answer: Mughal Emperor – Shuja-ud-Daulah, British Governor – Robert Clive
(Note: Per textbook OCR; historically it was Shah Alam II). This painting captures the moment the British officially gained the power to tax millions of Indians. It is one of the most significant scenes in all of Indian history.
Teacher's Tip: Look for the royal canopy to identify the Emperor and the red coat to identify the British Governor.
Exam Tip: Stick to the names provided in your specific textbook for exams.

Question 2: What is the significance of this grant of the Diwani?
Answer: The significance of granting the company the Diwani i.e. the right to collect revenue from these provinces and judge civil cases.
This meant the British now controlled the purse strings of Bengal. They used Indian taxes to buy Indian goods and to pay for their own army to conquer the rest of India.
Teacher's Tip: "Diwani" meant the British became the "Accountants" of the whole country.
Exam Tip: Mention that the Diwani included both "revenue collection" and "judging civil cases."

Question 3: Give a brief account of the battle that preceded this event. When did it take place?
Answer: Battle of Buxar in 1764.
This battle was fought between the British and a combined Indian alliance. The total defeat of the Indian kings led directly to the surrender ceremony shown in the picture.
Teacher's Tip: Buxar led to the "Treaty of Allahabad" and the grant of Diwani.
Exam Tip: Always associate the year 1764 with the Battle of Buxar.

Question 4: What is the importance of this battle?
Answer: Mir Qasim was defeated and Mir Jafar was reinstated on the throne.
The victory proved that the Company's trained army was far superior to traditional Indian forces. It confirmed that the British were now the true political power in Northern India.
Teacher's Tip: Buxar was the final military checkmate for the Nawabs of Bengal.
Exam Tip: Mention that the Nawab was "reinstated" as a puppet ruler after this battle.

OTHER IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

Question 1: What plot did Robert Clive hatch to remove Siraj-ud- Daulah?
Answer: Robert Clive hatched a plot with some of the influential men in the Nawabs court to overthrow Siraj-ud-Daulah. He signed a secret treaty with Mir Jafar Commander-in-chief of the Nawab’s forces to make him Nawab of Bengal in return of large amount of money. The British then presented in front of Siraj-ud-Daulah a set of impossible demands. This led to war between both the parties.
Clive knew he couldn't win a fair fight, so he bribed the Nawab's own generals to stay out of the battle. By making impossible demands, he forced the Nawab into a conflict where the Nawab had already been betrayed.
Teacher's Tip: Clive was as much a "Diplomat" (or trickster) as he was a "General."
Exam Tip: Use the term "secret treaty" when describing the plot with Mir Jafar.

Question 2: Why did Siraj-ud-Daulah lose the Battle of Plassey?
Answer: Siraj-ud-Daulah and Robert Clive marched with their forces to Plassey. But a major part of the Nawab’s army under the command of Mir Jafar did not take any part in the battle. Realizing that he had been betrayed, Siraj-ud-Daulah fled away from the battlefield.
The Nawab's army was huge, but because of Mir Jafar's betrayal, most of the soldiers never even drew their swords. Without the support of his main commander, the Nawab's position became hopeless very quickly.
Teacher's Tip: Siraj didn't lose to the British; he lost to "Betrayal."
Exam Tip: Highlight "Mir Jafar's non-participation" as the primary reason for the defeat.

Question 3: The battle of Plassey is a turning point in the history of India. Explain.
Answer: The Battle of Plassey was a major turning point in the history of India. 1. It paved the way for the establishment of British rule in Bengal and, eventually, the rest of India. 2. It transformed a trading company into a political power. 3. It provided the British the vast resources of Bengal, which helped them to win the Third Carnatic war and other expeditions in India.
Before Plassey, the British were guests; after Plassey, they were masters. The enormous wealth they looted from Bengal funded all their future conquests across the entire world.
Teacher's Tip: Plassey was the "Birth Certificate" of British India.
Exam Tip: Mention the transformation of a "trading company into a political power."

Question 4: When and between whom was the Battle of Buxar fought?
Answer: The Battle of Buxar was fought in 1764. It was fought between British on one hand and Mir Qasim, ruler of Bengal, Shuja-ud- Daulah Nawab of Awadh and Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II with an alliance on the other.
It was a "Three-against-One" match where the British took on the most powerful Indian leaders at once. Their victory proved that modern European training was stronger than sheer numbers of traditional troops.
Teacher's Tip: Buxar was the "Final Boss" fight for control of Northern India.
Exam Tip: List all three Indian members of the alliance to get full marks.

Question 5: What was the result of the British victory in the Battle of Buxar?
Answer: Results of the British victory in the Battle of Buxar :-
1. The British company was granted the undisputed right free trade in Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.
2. The company was given the Zamindari of the 24 parganas.
3. Mir Jafar paid the company and its officials over 300 lakh
(Note: Textbook results provided are very similar to Plassey results). The most important long-term result was that the British became the legal and military masters of the entire Ganges valley. It paved the way for the Treaty of Allahabad and the formal grant of Diwani.
Teacher's Tip: Buxar removed all local rivals who could challenge British trade.
Exam Tip: Mention the "undisputed right to free trade" as a key result.

Question 6: In 1765 the British signed treaties with
(1) The Nawab of Awadh
(2) The Mughal emperor and
(3) The Nawab of Bengal. In this context mention any two important terms of each of these treaties.
Answer: Important terms of the treaty:
With the Nawab of Awadh:
1. Awadh was returned to Shiya-ud-Daulah but he had to give two districts of Kora and Allahabad.
2. The Nawab of Awadh had to pay a war indemnity of 50 lakh rupees to the company with the Mughal emperor.
3. The British gave Shah Alam II, the districts of Kora and Allahabad and an annual pension of 26 lakh rupees.
4. In return the emperor granted the company the Diwani of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.
With the Nawab of Bengal:
1. The Nawab had to disband most of his army.
2. He also had to transfer the ‘Nizamat’ powers to a deputy Nawab appointed by the British.
These treaties stripped the Indian rulers of their independent power and turned them into dependents of the British. The Company took away their armies and their money, leaving them with only a title and a pension.
Teacher's Tip: Treaties are "Handcuffs made of Paper" that the British used to bind Indian kings.
Exam Tip: Group your answer by the three different rulers as shown above for clarity.

Question 7: What were the drawbacks of the Dual Government? Who abolished it?
Answer: In Dual government the company enjoyed power without any responsibilities. The Nawab on the other hand, was burdened with the responsibility of administration without the resources necessary. These were the drawbacks of this form of government.
This led to total chaos because nobody was actually helping the people during hard times like the great famine. It was eventually abolished by Warren Hastings when the situation became unbearable.
Teacher's Tip: Drawbacks = Power without care and Work without money.
Exam Tip: Always name Warren Hastings as the person who fixed the mess by abolishing the system.