04-12-2024
11:16 AM
Prelims: History of India and Indian National Movement.
Mains: Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues.
Robert Clive known as "Clive of India," was instrumental in establishing British control in Bengal during the 18th century. As the first Governor of the Bengal Presidency, Robert Clive played a significant role in shaping the British East India Company’s (EIC) dominance in the region. Clive’s leadership in the 1757 Battle of Plassey was a turning point, securing British influence in Bengal.
However, his tenure was marred by criticism, particularly regarding his administration's role in the Great Bengal Famine of 1770, which caused millions of deaths.
Robert Clive, the first Governor of Bengal Presidency, began his career in 1744 as a writer for the British EIC at Fort St. George in present-day Chennai. Frustrated with clerical work, he spent his free time reading extensively in the governor’s library, improving his education. However, Robert Clive’s opportunity came during the First Carnatic War, part of the European War of the Austrian Succession, where Britain and France supported rival Indian factions.
Robert Clive's rule in Bengal, during his two terms as Governor from 1757 to 1760 and again from 1765 to 1767, was marked by significant political and administrative changes that laid the foundation for British dominance in India. In 1756, Robert Clive led a relief expedition to recapture Calcutta, which he achieved in January 1757, forcing the Nawab to restore British privileges and pay compensation.
Robert Clive returned to India in 1765 after the British victory at the Battle of Buxar, which solidified British dominance. In August 1765, Robert Clive brokered two key treaties at Allahabad (Treaty of Allahabad), one with Nawab Shuja-ud-Daula of Awadh and the other with Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II.
Robert Clive’s Dual System of Government, introduced after the Battle of Buxar, allowed the East India Company to control both the Diwani (revenue collection) and Nizamat (police and judicial functions) in Bengal while maintaining the façade of Mughal authority through the Nawab.
Robert Clive has been widely criticized for his policies in Bengal, particularly for their devastating social and economic consequences. His role in the Bengal Famine of 1770, which resulted in millions of deaths, remains a central point of controversy.
However, Clive’s reforms to the revenue system and agricultural practices, designed to maximize profits for the East India Company, deepened poverty and worsened the suffering of Bengal’s people.
Q1. Who was Robert Clive?
Ans. Robert Clive was the first Governor of Bengal.
Q2. What role did Robert Clive play in British control over Bengal?
Ans. Robert Clive secured British dominance in Bengal through key victories like the Battle of Plassey and the implementation of policies such as the Dual System of Government.
Q3. What was the Dual System of Government?
Ans. A policy introduced by Robert Clive in which the East India Company controlled revenue collection (diwani) and judicial functions (nizamat), while the Nawab of Bengal retained nominal authority.
Q4.What was the Treaty of Allahabad?
Ans. It was an agreement between the East India Company, Nawab Shuja-ud-Daula, and Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II, which granted the Company the Diwani of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa.
Q5. Which Battle was fought by Robert Clive?
Ans. Robert Clive is most famously known for his leadership in the Battle of Plassey in 1757, a decisive victory that cemented British control over Bengal.
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