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Question 53 of 73 · Arrival of Europeans & Expansion of British Rule
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Who is regarded as the first independent Nawab of Bengal, who moved the capital to Murshidabad?

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Answer: Option B — Murshid Quli Khan

Detailed Solution

Murshid Quli Khan is regarded as the first independent Nawab of Bengal; he ruled from 1717 to 1727, and moved the capital of Bengal from Dacca to a town he renamed Murshidabad.

About Murshid Quli Khan:

  • He was born a Brahmana in the Deccan, and was bought as a slave and converted to Islam by a Persian noble, who brought him up.
  • He entered Mughal service and impressed Aurangzeb with his ability in revenue administration.
  • In 1700, Aurangzeb appointed him the Diwan of Bengal.
  • He later became the Deputy Governor and then the Nazim (governor) of Bengal (1717), holding both the Diwani and the Nizamat.

NCERT on Murshid Quli Khan:

  • NCERT notes that Murshid Quli Khan was appointed as the Naib (deputy) to the governor of Bengal.
  • He quickly seized all power that went with that office.
  • Like the rulers of Hyderabad and Awadh, he also commanded the revenue administration of the state.
  • In an effort to reduce Mughal influence in Bengal, he transferred all Mughal jagirdars to Orissa and ordered a major reassessment of the revenues of Bengal.
  • Revenue was collected in cash with great strictness from all zamindars.
  • As a result, many zamindars had to borrow money from bankers and moneylenders, and those unable to pay were forced to sell their lands to larger zamindars.

His achievements:

  • He reorganised the revenue system, increasing the state's income.
  • He continued to send revenue to the Mughal emperor, while ruling independently in practice.
  • He encouraged trade and the rise of bankers, such as the Jagat Seth family.

Murshidabad:

  • He moved the capital from Dacca to Maksudabad around 1704, and renamed it Murshidabad after himself.
  • It remained the capital of the Nawabs of Bengal until the British period.

His successors:

Shuja-ud-Din (his son-in-law), Sarfaraz Khan, Alivardi Khan and Siraj-ud-Daula.

Why not the other options?

  • ✗Alivardi Khan and Siraj-ud-Daula were later Nawabs.
  • ✗Shuja-ud-Din was his successor.

Quick tip

Remember: first Nawab of Bengal = Murshid Quli Khan (Diwan from 1700; Nazim from 1717; capital moved to Murshidabad); Alivardi Khan and Siraj-ud-Daula came later.

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Arrival of Europeans & Expansion of British Rule — Preparation

This question tests your understanding of Arrival of Europeans & Expansion of British Rule, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.

This topic covers the arrival of the Portuguese, Dutch, English, Danes and French in India, the growth of the East India Company, and the battles, wars and treaties through which British power expanded, including the Battles of Plassey and Buxar, the Anglo-Mysore, Anglo-Maratha and Anglo-Sikh wars, and policies such as subsidiary alliance and the doctrine of lapse. Typical questions ask which battle was fought in which year and between whom, which treaty ended which war, and which Governor-General introduced a policy. For example, the Battle of Plassey (1757) was fought between Robert Clive and Siraj-ud-Daulah, and the Treaty of Allahabad (1765) gave the Company the diwani of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. Practise the arrival of Europeans and expansion of British rule questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.

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