MURSHID QUL� KH�N'S RELATIONS WITH THE ENGLISH EAST INDIA COMPANY

FROM 1700 - 1707

BY

A. KARIM (Dacca University)

Except for two years 1708 and 1709, when he was removed to the Deccan, Murshid Quli Khan was the guiding factor in Bengal politics during the first quarter of the 18th century. Appointed the d7wdn of Bengal in 1700 by Emperor Aurangzib, he was gradually raised to the highest position in Bengal by Aurangzib's successors. By 1707, he became the si7babdir of one province, Orissa, dïwän of three provinces, Bengal, Bihar and Orissa, and faujdar of five disricts in Bengal and Orissa. In after two years' absence, he was again appointed the dïwän of Bengal; in I 7I 3 he became the subahdar of Orissa with deputy subahdari of Bengal ; and finally, in i 7 y, he became the subahdar of Bengal in addition to his former posts 1). He was the highest Imperial officers present in Bengal practically from the beginning of his career, because the sfibabddr had all along been absent from his station 2). Moreover, Murshid Quli Khan was the most favoured of all officers of Aurangzib in Bengal 3) and his prestige remained undiminished 4) under all succeeding Emperors till his death in 1727. During Murshid Quli Khan's term of office Bengal witnessed a flourishing trade, both inland and foreign, the commerce of the European companies expanding by leaps and bounds 5). The English East India Company gained a controlling position in Bengal's economy, 265 both by their volume of trade and by obtaining privileges from the Government. The this Mughal English gained position through various ordeals, trials and tribulations. At times their trade was stopped, and amounts of were extorted from them the huge money by Mughal Thus the attitude of Murshid Quli Khan, known to be a good financier, towards the English company in Bengal is a signi- ficant factor in the history of the period. The present paper treats of this subject during the first term of his office in Bengal, from 1700 to 1707. The sources for the study of Murshid Quli Khan's relations with the English East India Company are mainly the English records, viz. the Diary and Consultations of the Calcutta Council and the letters received from or despatched by them to their masters in England or to the sister councils in other parts of the East. The early history of the English in Bengal has been studied by John Bruce 2) and C. R. Wilson 3), the latter making available to scholars the Diary and Con- sultations from 1704 to 1722, practically the whole period of Murshid Quli Khan's career in Bengal. The scholars did not however throw much light on Murshid Quli Khan's relations with the English, because, as the nature of their works suggests, they were chiefly interested in the English trade. Moreover they were baffled by the absence of a correct chronology of Murshid Quli Khan's career. Charles Stewart 4), the first English scholar to attempt a comprehensive history of Bengal in the Muslim period, did no better because he did not or rather could not utilise the Diary and Consultations. Recently Miss Anjali Sen has studied the subject afresh 5). She appears to have followed Bruce, Wilson and Stewart without any substantial progress.