Question

explain the conquest of Bengal by the British

Answer 1

The East India Company secured valuable privileges in 1717 under a royal farman by the Mughal Emperor, which had granted the Company the freedom to export and import their goods in Bengal without paying taxes and right to issue passes or dastaks for the movements of such goods. The Company servants were also permitted to trade but were not covered by this farman. They were required to pay the same taxes as Indian merchants. This farman was a perpetual source of conflict between the Company and the Nawabs of Bengal. All the Nawabs of Bengal from Mushid Quli Khan to Alivardi Khan, had objected to the English interpretation of the farman of 1717. They had compelled the Company to pay lumps sums to their treasury, and firmly suppressed the misuse of dastaks. 

Answer 2

• In early 17th century English east India company was merely a trading body.
• It sent request to Mughal Emperor for trade concessions and privelges.
• After the death of Aurangzeb the mughal Empire became weak.
• Taking this as advantage officials of the company intensified their operations in Bengal.
• In 1717 they obtained the rights of exporting and importing goods without paying custom duty.
• This concession was only given for the company, but officials of the company engaged in private trade.