Located on the southern banks of the Bhagirathi in West Bengal, Murshidabad is a place that seems to exist suspended in time somewhere between the medieval and the modern.
A great centre of trade in the Mughal era, Murshidabad is
closely associated with events that ultimately changed the course of modern
Indian history. Once the seat of government of the Nawabs of Bengal, this
historical place is located on the southern banks of the Bhagirathi in West
Bengal.
The Bengal Nawab Siraj-ud-daula was defeated by Robert
Clive, the architect of the British power in India, in the Battle of Plassey
(now Palashi) in Murshidabad in 1757, laying the foundation of the British
Empire in India.
Today known more for its silk, Murshidabad is a district
town that seems to exist suspended in time somewhere between the medieval and
the modern.
Named after Murshid Quli Khan, the Diwan of Bengal under
Aurangzeb, Murshidabad came to the forefront of attention in 1704 when he
transferred his capital from Dacca to this place and renamed it Murshidabad.
Murshid Quli Khan was the first Nawab of Bengal and the founder of the Nasiri
dynasty which ruled Bengal from 1717 until 1740.
History of Murshidabad
Ancient Times
Karnasuvarna (কর্ণসুবর্ণ),
currently located in the present day Murshidabad district, was the capital of
Gauda Kingdom, ruled by Sasank, a contemporary of Harshvardhan (Harsha) of
Kanauj and his arch enemey. Sasank had killed Rajyavardhana, elder brother and
predecessor of Harsha. Sasank ruled in the first half of the seventh century
AD.
It was after the death of Sasank that the Gauda kingdom of
Karnasuvarna became a part of the Assam's Kamarupa kingdom which was ruled by
Bhaskaravarman.
Mughal Period
Siraj ud Daula became the Nawab of Bengal after the death of
his grandfather and Bengal Nawab Alivardi Khan who died in 1756. He was the son
of latter's youngest daughter. This was not liked by his near relations
including his mother’s eldest sister, Ghasiti Begum, and his cousin Shaukat
Jung who went all length to conspire against him. In addition, Siraj ud
Daula found in Mir Jafar, the Commander-in-Chief of the army, a formidable
enemy.
Though inexperienced and lacking decision making power,
Siraj-ud-Daulah became successful in overcoming these challenges by killing
Shaukat Jung in October 1756. Ghasiti Begum was rendered powerless by the
confiscation of her wealth. Mir Jafar was replaced by Mir Madan as the
commander of the army.
Siraj ud Daula, the then Nawab of Bengal, resented to the
interference by the East India Company in his province. He was also livid with
the company’s abuse of the commercial privileges which was granted by the
Mughal emperor Farrukhsiyar under the firman of 1717.
With the worsening of the relations between the Bengal Nawab and the English, the latter hatched a conspiracy with Mir Jafar. The battle of Plassey was fought on 23 June 1757, resulting in the defeat of Siraj-ud-Daulah who fled from the battlefield. He was, however, captured and put to death by the orders of Miran, the son of Mir Jafar who was now made the Nawab of Bengal.Places of Interest in Murshidabad
Nimak Haram Deohri (Traitor’s Gate)
Presently in ruins, Nimak Haram Deohri or the Traitor's Gate is the gate to the residence of Mir Jafar who was the general of Siraj-ud-doula. It was Mir Jafar’s treacherous advice to Siraj-ud-doula to suspend the battle after the death of latter's trusted officer Mir Madan Khan lost the day for Siraj-ud-doula in the Battle of Plassey.
Fauti or Phuti Masjid
Sarfaraz Khan had succeeded his father Shuja-ud-Din Muhammad Khan who had become Bengal Nawab after the death of latter's father-in-law Murshid Quli Khan.
Chowk Mosque
Built in 1767 AD by Munni Begum (the second wife of Mir Jafar, the Bengal Nawab from 1757 to 1760 and 1763 to 1765) the Chowk Mosque in Murshidabad is now under the protection of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
Motijheel or Pearl Lake
Motijheel or Pearl Lake is an oxbow lake in Murshidabad. This horse-shoe shaped lake broke away from the meandering River Bhagirathi centuries ago. Located at the bend of this lake is a beautiful palace named Sang-i-Dalan (Stone Palace), a towering gateway and a three-domed mosque and some other structures erected by Nawazish Muhammad Khan, nephew and son-in-law of Alivardi Khan (the Bengal Nawab after whose death his grandson Siraj ud Daula became the Nawab of Bengal).
Comments
Post a Comment