The Theft of India: The European Conquests of India, 1498-1765

by Roy Moxham

1765. The defeat of Mir Qasim and his allies at Buxar enabled the Company to dictate terms to the losers. Mir Qasim fled to Delhi and died in poverty. Rather than conquer further territories, Clive decided to allow the viceroy of Awadh to resume office, but give some of his land to the Mughal emperor. In gratitude the emperor bestowed the ‘Dewani’ of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa on the Company. This made them the legal rulers and gave them the right to all the revenue. This momentous document was delivered at Benares by the Mughal emperor himself. He handed it down from a makeshift throne made by taking a chair from Clive’s tent and putting it on top of an English dining table that had been covered with an embroidered cloth. It was the beginning of British rule in India.