First Governor of Bengal (1754–1767): Robert Clive, British Rule & Dual System

Bengal’s Empire: Rise and Legacy of Governor of Bengal

An area of the British Empire in India was known as the Bengal Presidency, later changing its name to Bengal Province. At its height, its territorial dominion covered a large portion of what is now South and Southeast Asia. The term “Bengali proper” refers to the Bengal ethnolinguistic region, which includes the modern nations of Bangladesh and West Bengal, India. The capital of the Bengal Presidency was the metropolis that grew up around Fort William, called Calcutta.

Robert Clive: Architect of British Rule as Governor of Bengal

From 29 September 1725 to 22 November 1774, Major-General Robert Clive served as the first British governor of the Bengal Presidency.

• He started off working as a writer for the East India Company (EIC), which rose to power in Bengal after a decisive victory at the Battle of Plassey. This victory helped the EIC establish its dominance in both politics and the military.
• The East India Company’s takeover of Bengal, which finally resulted in the subjugation of the whole Indian Subcontinent, was primarily made possible by Robert Clive.
• Clive is credited for creating the foundation for the British Raj in India as a result.

Tenure Of Robert Clive As Governor of Bengal: The Dual System and Battle of Buxar

Governor of Bengal from 1757 to 1760 and again from 1765 to 1767 was Robert Clive.

• Under Nawab Mir Jaffar, corruption was rife during his first stint as governor of Bengal.
• Increasing profits at the expense of the peasants was the company’s only objective.
• Before leaving for Britain in 1760, he earned a sizable personal fortune in India.
• He went back to India in 1765 in his capacity as Bengal’s governor and commander-in-chief. Corruption was rampant in the company at the time.
• As a result, Clive forbade employees of the business from engaging in side business. Additionally, he prohibited them from receiving gifts.
• He established the ‘Society of Trade,’ which was eventually dissolved, in 1765.
• The united armies of Mir Qasim, Shuja Ud Daulah (the Nawab of Awadh), and Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II were faced by the British at the Battle of Buxar. The British prevailed in this conflict.
• As a result of this conflict, the Mughal Emperor gave the British the Allahabad and Kora districts in addition to the Diwani (authority to collect taxes) of Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha.
• Robert Clive, who had the option to acquire Awadh as well, decided against it. As a “buffer” state between the British and the Marathas, that was how he saw it.
• Bengal remained under the Nizamat (territorial jurisdiction) of the Nawab. Actually, the English were in charge of this situation.
• This was Clive’s Dual System, where the Nizamat was held by the Nawab and the Diwan served as the company.

Conclusion

The Regulating Act of 1773 created the position of Governor General of Bengal or the Presidency of Fort William, to be chosen by the EIC (East India Company Court of Directors). A Council of Four (located in India) was established by the Court of Directors to assist the Governor-General from 1773 to 1784, and the council’s decisions were final.

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