Siraj-Ud-Daulah was a famous ruler who also became the Nawab of Bengal in the 1756 AD. He succeeded Alivardi Khan, his grandfather at the age of 23 years. He was also known as "Mirza Mohammad Sirajud". British East India Company"s rule commenced with the end of his rule. He was also known as "Sir Roger Dowlett" by several British. Under his reign, Siraj-ud-Daulah stood his ground against the "British East India Company" which had begun capturing parts of Bengal. Siraj ud-Daulah was one of those few Indian rulers who knew the intention of the British right from the beginning, which prompted him to act against British colonization in Bengal.
Early Life of Siraj-Ud-Daulah
Siraj-Ud-Daulah was born to Zain-Ud-Din Ahmed Khan and Amina Begum in 1733. His father was the ruler of Bihar and his mother was the youngest daughter of Nawab Alivardi Khan. In his teens, Siraj was a reckless fellow, which dragged the notice of his grandfather. Young Siraj also accompanied Alivardi on his military ventures against the Marathas in 1746. Siraj-Ud-Daulah was regarded as the "fortune child" of the family. In the year 1752, Alivardi Khan officially announced his grandson Siraj-Ud-Daulah as the successor and Crown Prince to the throne. His nomination to the nawabship triggered the enmity and jealousy of Ghaseti Begum, who was the eldest sister of the mother of Siraj; British East India Company, Raja Rajballabh and Shaukat Jung (the cousin of Siraj).
Conquests of Siraj-Ud-Daulah
Siraj ud-Daulah"s strong resistance against the British led to the famous "Battle of Plassey". The Battle of Plassey is widely regarded as the turning point in the history of India. It helped open the doors to the British to have their hold on India. After the conquest of Kolkata by Siraj-Ud-Daulah, the British retaliated by sending fresh set of troops from Chennai to regain control of the fort and take revenge of the attack. In the Battle of Plassey he was deceived by a conspiracy of Mir Jafar, Umi Chand, Jagat Seth, Krishna Chandra thereby to the British and Siraj escaped to Murshidabad and then he went to Patna with the help of a boat, but was finally arrested by the soldiers of Mir Jafar.
Death of Siraj-Ud-Daulah
Siraj-ud-Daulah was executed on 2nd July 1757 by Mohammad Ali Beg under orders from Mir Meerun, son of Mir Jafar in Namak Haram Deorhi as part of the agreement between Mir Jafar and the British East India Company. His mortal remains were buried at Khushbagh in Murshidabad, West Bengal.
Siraj-Ud-Daulah is considered as a freedom fighter in Bangladesh, Pakistan and modern India because of his strong opposition to the British annexation. Siraj-Ud-Daulah was a furious fighter against the pirates of Southern Bengal and the Marathas during the 1740s, but his loss at the "Battle of Plassey" is seen widely as the beginning of British"s domination in India.