SOAS Research Online

Abstract

Chapter I defines the scope and importance of the work, evaluates the existing works on the subject, and describes the sources utilised. Chapter II deals with the career of Murshid Quli Khan, setting it in perspective of Mughal imperial politics. The chronological mistakes of former writers have been corrected. Murshid Quli Khan's position under the Emperors Bahadur Shah and Farrukh Siyar, confused by previous writers, has been discussed and clarified. Chapter III deals with the provincial administration under Murshid Quli Khan. His influence over the provincial administration and provincial officers has been brought to light. This aspect had been neglected by previous scholars. Murshid Quli Khan's revenue reforms have been discussed in the light of non-Persian sources, which earlier writers had neglected. An attempt has been made to explain some obscure points like the basis of settlement and the rates of revenues. Chapter IV deals with Murshid Quli Khan's relations with the European companies, and corrects misunderstandings and misinterpretations by previous scholars, such as Charles Stewart, C.R. Wilson and Miss Anjali Sen. In particular the thesis that Murshid Quli Khan harassed the English traders for his own gain, has been refuted. In Section V, Murshid Quli Khan's relations with other European traders have been discussed, though only in outline. Chapter V in its two sections, deals with the effect of Murshid Quli Khan's rule on the trade, commerce and economic conditions of Bengal and on the social life of the province. The economy of Bengal has been studied by S. Bhattacharya in his East India Company and the Economy of Bengal 1704-1740, to whom the present writer is greatly indebted, but in the present study an attempt has been made both to identify the role of Murshid Quli Khan and to examine more closely the part played by the local people in the expanding trade and commerce of the country, and to show what benefits they derived from the expansion. The second section deals with other aspects of the society during Murshid Quli Khan's time. Such points as the composition of the society, education and Hindu-Muslim relations have been discussed. The Conclusion provides a brief review of the main themes of the thesis.