THE PERIOD OF THE NAWABS IN BENGAL (1717 – 1757): A POLITICAL SKETCH

The Nawabi period in Bengal represents a crucial transitional era between the Mughal rule and the British colonial dominance. From 1717 to 1757, it was characterized by increasing autonomy, administrative reforms, and growing European meddling, particularly from the English East India Co. Murshid Quli Khan established a practical independence, which the later Nawabs maintained, but in 1757 the English decisively defeated the last independent Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah in the battle of Plassey. In this paper I examine the important events from 1717 to 1757 and ultimately the end of the independent Nawabi rule in Bengal. This paper is a try to give a Political sketch of Bengal during the period of the Nawabs from 1717 to1757, by the extensive use of Primary Persian sources.