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Dual Government in Bengal

The document discusses the establishment of dual government in Bengal by Clive in 1765, where the East India Company held revenue collection rights while the Nawab maintained law and order. This system led to severe defects, including exploitation of local merchants, deterioration of industries, and widespread suffering among the populace due to maladministration. Ultimately, the dual government resulted in significant economic and social challenges for Bengal, exacerbated by a famine and oppressive practices by the Company's employees.

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110 views2 pages

Dual Government in Bengal

The document discusses the establishment of dual government in Bengal by Clive in 1765, where the East India Company held revenue collection rights while the Nawab maintained law and order. This system led to severe defects, including exploitation of local merchants, deterioration of industries, and widespread suffering among the populace due to maladministration. Ultimately, the dual government resulted in significant economic and social challenges for Bengal, exacerbated by a famine and oppressive practices by the Company's employees.

Uploaded by

myselfpratibha.090
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Dual Government In Bengal

Meaning Of Dual Administration


Clive Established dual government in Bengal.
In 1765 the Company got the rights of the Diwan, viz. rights to collect revenue and
dispensation of civil justice for Bengal, Bihar and Orissa from the Mughal emperor. The
Nawab of Bengal, however, retained the rights of the Nizamat, Viz., the rights to maintain
peace and Order, defend the frontiers against foreign aggression and dispensation of
criminal justice. Thus, the ruling authority of Bengal was divided under two heads. The one
head was given under the charge of the Nawab and the other under the charge of the
Company. Because of this division of authority, the rule in Bengal between
the period 1765-1772 has been called the'Dual Government'
The Company desired to draw the maximum advantages to itself by keeping the finances of
Bengal under its own power,but it refused to accept any responsibility regarding the
governance of Bengal. It became very much clear when, in practice, the Company refused to
take direct responsibility on its shoulders even concerning the Diwani. Clive appointed two
naib (deputy) diwans on behalf of the Company, namely, Raja Shitab Ray for Bihar and
Muhammad Raza Khan for Bengal, their respective seats of office being Patna and
Murshidabad.
Besides, as the Nawab was a minor, the Company appointed Muhammad
Raza Khan as the Naib Nizam as well. Therefore, the responsibility governing Bengal, in
fact, passed into the hands of Muhammad Raza Khan who was a servant of the Company
both as naib Nizam and naib Diwan. The
Company could press this servant into action according to its own desire and yet, was free
from any responsibility.

Defects Of Dual Admnistration


The dual government in Bengal continued from A. D. 1767 to 1777, but it suffered from the
following severe defects for which the people of Bengal had to suffer a lot:-

1. The East India Company had established control over all the wealth but it had no duty
towards the subiects and their welfare. The Nawab was short of the money and the army but
it was his responsibility to look after the safety of the people. Hence, under such
circumstances it was not possible for the Nawab to maintain law and order and run the
administration smoothly.

2) As the private trade of the servants of the Company reached its peak, the condition of
Indian merchants deteriorated rapidly. They could not compete with the English merchants in
the market. Clive once remarked before the House of Commons, "The Company's
merchants traded not only as merchants but as sovereigns and had taken the bread
out of the mouth of thousands and thousands of merchants who used formerly to
carry on the trade, and who are, now reduced to beggary."

3)Bengal was the famous centre of cloth industry but on account of the stern policies of the
English, its trade was ruined. The cotton and silk industry in Bengal was almost destroyed
due to the arbitrary acts of the English. The English harassed the artisans so much that they
either changed their profession or left Bengal.
4. Several laws were introduced. Sometimes the native laws were used and sometimes
judgements were given according to foreign laws. The criminal courts followed the Muslim
law of the Nawab while the civil courts were working on the basis of the English law. Justice
was sold and bribe was in vogue. Actually, the law was interpreted according to the will of
the Britishers.

5. The employees of the Nawab started oppressing the subjects for want of money. They
began to extract money by hook or by crook, from the people.

6 Besides trade, the agriculture was also ruined. The right of realisation of tax was given to
the highest bidder, who extracted maximum from the peasants and deposited minimum in
the royal treasury. The employees of the company were beyond the control of the Nawab
and their only duty was to extract as much money as they could and went back to London.

7. Bengal was severely hit by a famine and a good number of the population fell prey to it.
Undoubtedly, the failure of rains was the main reason of this famine but it was all the more
worsened by the maladministration of the English. The peasants were forced to give up
agriculture and resorted to robbery.

Notes By-
Dr.Mrs.Jyotika.Roy
Vice Principal
E.C.C
Prayagraj
9369845178
roy.dr17@gmail.com

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