Mir Kasim and the Treaty of 1760

Mir Jafar was increasingly irritated by the interference of Clive. He entered into a conspiracy with the Dutch at Chinsura. But the Dutch were defeated and humbled by the English forces at Bedara in November 1759. The treachery of Mir Jafar and his failure to make the payments due to the Company, annoyed the English. Meanwhile, Miran, the son of Jafar died and there started a fight for the nawabship of Bengal between Mir Kasim, the son-in-law of Mir Jafar, and Miran’s son. Vansittart, the new Governor of Calcutta,

agreed to support Mir Kasim’s claim after a treaty between Mir Kasim and the Company was signed in 1760. Important features of the treaty were as follows:

(i) Mir Kasim agreed to cede to the Company the districts of Burdwan, Midnapur and Chittagong.

(ii) The Company would get half of the share in chunam

trade of Sylhet.

(iii) Mir Kasim agreed to pay off the outstanding dues to the Company.

(iv) Mir Kasim promised to pay a sum of rupees five lakh towards financing the Company’s war efforts in southern India.

(v) It was agreed that Mir Kasim’s enemies were the Company’s enemies, and his friends, the Company’s friends.

(vi) It was agreed that tenants of the nawab’s territory would not be allowed to settle in the lands of the Company, and vice-versa.

Under the pressure of the Company, Mir Jafar decided to resign in favour of Mir Kasim. A pension of Rs 1,500 per annum was fixed for Mir Jafar.