FAQs On Diwani Rights

Question 1: What is Diwani Right?

Answer: 

The Diwani right was the right granted to the British East India Company to collect taxes and administer civil justice in Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa, following the defeat of the Nawab of Bengal in 1765.

Question 2: How did the British East India Company obtain the Diwani right?

Answer: 

The Diwani right was granted to the British East India Company by the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II in 1765.

Question 3: What were the consequences of the Diwani right for the people of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa?

Answer:

The Diwani right allowed the British East India Company to collect taxes directly from the people, which often resulted in increased taxes and economic hardship for the local population. The Company’s administration of justice was also often harsh and arbitrary, leading to further discontent among the people.

An agreement made with the Mughal Emperor in the late 18th century gave the British East India Company access to the Diwani rights. The word “Diwani right” referred to the authority to manage and collect taxes in a specific area. The agreement gave the Company authority to levy taxes and manage funds throughout the Mughal Empire’s at-the-time provinces of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa.

Although there are conflicting reports of the actual circumstances surrounding the treaty’s signing, it is generally acknowledged that the Company acquired the Diwani rights through a combination of political scheming and military force. The acquisition of these rights significantly increased the British Empire’s authority and influence in India and opened the door for further British colonization of the continent.