The process of consolidation of Bengal, which started after the Battle of Plassey culminated in the Battle of Buxar. Do you think the Battle of Buxar was more important for the British than Plassey?

Battle of Plassey was fought between Bengal and British in 1757 and Battle of Buxan was fought between British & combined forces of Mughal, Awadh and Bengal in 1764.

Consolidation process of Bengal by British:

1. Started from getting dastaks from Farruakh Syar in 1707.

2. However, misuse of dastak and alleged interference with Bengal's nawab Siraj-ud-dullah's intent led to Battle of Plassey.

3. Defeat of Siraj-ud-dullah gave British control over land revenue by formation of dual government.

4. → With puppet rules Mir Jafar.

5. However, frequent disputes between Nawab and British forced Mir Jafar to gain support from Awadh and Delhi (Mughal) to fight British out of Bengal.

This resulted in Battle of Buxan in 1764. However, defeat of the three forces and Treaty of Allahabad (1765) officially established British paramountcy over Bengal.

Battle of Buxar more important than Plassey for British → [REASONS]

1. Plassey gave them control over few parts of Bengal, but Buxan gave diwani rights over Bengal, Bihar, Odisha.

2. Buxan ensured practical end to Mughal rule → the sole rulers of India → established British hegemony.

3. The revenue from Bengal-Bihar-Odisha further supported British conquest over Maratha, Mysore etc.

4. It gave British leaders like Munro, Robert Clive who further led British rule over India.

5. Buxan made Awadh a vassal state under British → Used as Ring Fence policy as buffer against foreign state invasion.

Overall, it was Battle of Buxan that laid strong foundation to the British rule over India for the next two centuries, due to the morale, financial and political boost it gave to British.

— Prajnanandan Giri · AIR 24