Nawab of Bengal

From Bharatpedia, an open encyclopedia
Nawab Nazim of Bengal and Orissa (1717–1880)a
and
Nawab Bahadur of Murshidabad (1882–1971)b

Nawabs of Bengal and Murshidabad
1717–1765
Motto: Nil Desperandum
"There is no cause for despair, never despair"
Location of Nawabs of Bengal and Murshidabad
CapitalMurshidabadc
Common languagesEnglish

Persian
Bengali
Hindi
Urdu

Arabic
GovernmentNobility
Historical eraMughal Empire
British India
1526
• Established
1717
23 June 1757
22 October 1764
• Abolition of the title of Nawab of Bengal
1880
• Abdication of Mansoor Ali Khan, the last Nawab of Bengal
1 November 1880
• Emergence of the Nawab of Murshidabad
17 February 1882
• Article 18 of the Indian Constitution abolishes titles, except those given by the Government of India to those who have made their mark in military and academic fields
26 January 1950
• Disestablished
1765
Population
• 1901
75 million[1]
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Bengal Sultanate
Delhi Sultanate
Mughal Empire
Company rule in India
Bengal Presidency
British Raj
Today part of India
 Bangladesh
  1. Title abolished in 1880
  2. After Indian independence in 1947, followed by the promulgation of the Indian Constitution on 26 January 1950, which marked the transformation of the Dominion of India into the Republic of India, the Article 18 of the Indian Constitution abolished all titles, except those given by the Government of India to those who have made their mark in military and academic fields. However, under the policy of Privy Purse nobles were allowed to enjoy certain privileges and keep their titles. However, this policy was abolished in 1971 by the twenty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution of India. Thus the title of the "Nawab Bahadur of Murshidabad" was officially, constitutionally and legally abolished in 1971.
  3. Murshidabad was the capital for both the Nawabs of Bengal and the Nawabs of Murshidabad.

The Nawabs of Bengal (the Nawab Nizam of Bengal and Orissa) were the rulers of the provinces of Bengal and Orissa. Between 1717 and 1772, they were the rulers of the province of Bengal.

The last independent Nawab of Bengal, Siraj ud-Daulah, was betrayed in the Battle of Plassey by Mir Jafar. He lost to the British, who in 1757, installed Mir Jafar on the throne and established itself as a political power in Bengal.[2]

In 1765 the system of 'dual government' meant the Nawabs ruled on behalf of the British, and were puppets to the British. In 1772 the system was abolished and Bengal was brought under direct control of the British. In 1793, when the Nizamat (governorship) of the Nawab was also taken away from them, they remained as the pensioners of the British East India Company.[3][4] The last Nawab of Bengal, Mansur Ali Khan abdicated on 1 November 1880 in favour of his eldest son, Hassan Ali Mirza.[5]

References[edit]

  1. Imperial Gazetteer of India vol. IV 1907, p. 46
  2. Chaudhury, Sushil; Mohsin, KM (2012). "Sirajuddaula". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Archived from the original on 14 June 2015.
  3. Singh, Vipul (2009). Longman History & Civics (Dual Government in Bengal. Pearson Education India. pp. 29–. ISBN 978-81-317-2888-8.
  4. Editorial Board : Pratiyogita Darpan (2009). Madhya Pradesh National Means-Cum-Merit Scholarship Exam (Warren Hasting's system of Dual Government. Upkar Prakashan. pp. 11–. ISBN 978-81-7482-744-9.
  5. Murshidabad.net (8 May 2012). "Decline of the Nawabs of Bengal". Archived from the original on 2 September 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2012.