Mughal Emperor Shah Alam's grant of diwani to the East India Company, 1765
Firman from Shah Alam granting the Diwani of Bengal, Behar, and Orissa to the East India Company, 12 August 1765
At this happy time our royal Firmaund, indispensably requiring obedience, is issued; that whereas, in consideration of the attachment and services of the high and mighty, the noblest of exalted nobles, the chief of illustrious warriors, our faithful servants and sincere well-wishers, worthy of our royal favours, the English Company, we have granted them the Dewanny of the Provinces of Bengal, Behar, and Orissa, from the beginning of the Fussul Rubby of the Bengal year 1172, as a free gift and ultumgau, without the association of any other person, and with an exemption from -the payment of the customs of the Dewanny, which used to be paid to the Court. It is requisite that the said Company engage to be security for the sum of twenty-six lakhs of rupees a year, for our royal revenue, which sum has been appointed from the Nabob Nudjum-ul-Dowla Behauder and regularly remit the same to the royal Circar; and in this case, as the said Company are obliged to keep up a large army for the protection of the Provinces of Bengal, &c., we have granted to them whatsoever may remain out of the revenues of the said Provinces, after remitting the sum of twenty-six lakhs of rupees to the royal Circar, and providing for the expenses of the Nizamut. It is requisite that our loyal descendents, Viziers, the bestowers of dignity, the Omrahs, high in rank, the great officers, the Muttaseddees of the Dewanny, the managers of the business of the Sultanut, the Jaghirdars and Croories, as well the future as the present, using their constant endeavours for the establishment of this our royal command, leave the said office in possession of the said Comany, from generation to generation, for ever and ever. Looking upon them to be assured from dismission or removal, they must, on no account whatsoever, give them any interruption, and they must regard them as excused and exempted from the payment of all the customs of the Dewanny and royal demands. Knowing our orders on the subject to be most strict and positive, let them not deviate therefrom.
Written the 24th of Sophar, of the 6th year of the Jalloos, the 12th of August 1765.
Contents of the Zimmun
Agreeably to the paper which has received our sign manual, our royal commands are issued, that in consideration of the attachment and services of the high and mighty, the noblest of exalted nobles, the chief of illustrious warriors, our faithful servants and sincere well-wishers, worthy of our royal favours, the English Company, we have granted them the Dewanny of the Provinces of Bengal, Behar, and Orissa, from the beginning of the Fussul Rubby of the Bengal year 1172, as free gift and ultumgau, without the association of any other person, and with an exemption from the customs of the Dewanny, which used to be paid to the Court, on condition of their being security for the sum of twenty-six lakhs of rupees .a year f or our royal revenue, which sum has been appointed from the Nabob Nudjum-ul-Dowla. Behauder; and after remitting the royal revenue and providing for the expenses of the Nizamut, whatsoever may remain we have granted to the said Company:
The Dewanny of the Province of Bengal.
The Dewanny of the Province of Behar.
The Dewanny of the Province of Orissa.
FIRMAUND FROM THE KING SHAH AALUM FOR THE DEWANNY OF THE PROVINCE OF BENGAL, 1765
At this happy time our royal Firmaund, indispensably requiring obedience, is issued; that, in consideration of the attachment of the high and mighty, the noblest of exalted nobles, the chief of illustrious warriors, our faithful servants and sincere well-wishers, worthy of our royal favours, the English Company, we have granted them as a free gift and ultumgau, agreeably to the Zimmun, from the beginning of Rubby Tuccacooy-ul of the Bengal year 1172, the office of the Dewanny of the Khalsa Shereefa of the Province of Bengal (the Paradise of the Earth), with the conditional jaghire thereof, without the association of any other person. It is requisite that our royal descendants, the Viziers, the bestowers of dignity, the Omrahs, high in rank, the great officers, the Muttaseddees of the Dewanny, the managers of the business of the Sultanut, the Jaghirdars and Croories, as well the future as the present, using their constant endeavours for the establishment of this our royal command, leave the said office in possession of the said Company, from generation to generation, for ever and ever. Looking upon them to be insured from dismissal or removal, they must, on no account whatsoever, give them any interruption, and they must regard them as excused and exempted from the payment of all the customs of the Dewanny and demands of the Sultanut. Knowing our orders on this subject to be most strict and positive, let them not deviate therefrom.
Written the 24th of Sophar, of the 6th year of the Jaloos, the 12th of August 1765.
Contents of the Zimmun
Agreeably to the paper which has received our sign manual, we have granted the office of the Dewanny of the Khalsa Shereefa of the Province of Bengal (the Paradise of the Earth), with the conditional jaghire thereof, as a free gift and ultumgau, to the high and mighty, the noblest of exalted nobles, the chief of illustrious warriors, our faithful servants and sincere well-wishers, worthy of our royal favours, the English Company, without the association of any other person from the beginning of the Rubby Tuccacooy-ul of the Bengal year 1172.
Fort William, 30th September 1765.
(A true copy.)
(Signed) ALEXANDER CAMPBELL, S.S.C.
[Similar separate Firmaunds were granted for Behar and Orissa.]
FIRMAUND FROM THE KING SHAH AALUM, CONFIRMING TIRE GRANTS OF BURDWAN AND THE REST OF THE COMPANY'S POSSESSIONS IN BENGAL TO THEM, 1765.
At this happy time our royal Firmaund, indispensably requiring obedience, is issued ; that the Chucklas of Burdwan, Midnapore, and Chittagong, and also the Twenty-four Pergunnahs of Calcutta, &c. (the zemindarry of the high and mighty, the noblest of exalted nobles, the chief of illustrious warriors, our faithful servants and sincere well-wishers, worthy of our royal favours, the English Company), which were granted to the said Company in the time of Meer Mahomed Kossim, and Meer Mahomed Jaffier Khan, deceased; we, in consideration of the attachment of the said Company, have been graciously pleased to confirm to them, from the beginning of the Fussul Rubby of the Bengal year 1172, as a free gift and ultumgau, without the association of any other person. It is requisite that our royal descendants, the Viziers, the bestowers of dignity, the Omrahs, high in rank, the great officers, the Mattaseddees of the Dewanny, the managers of the business of the Sultanut, the Jaghirdars and Croories, as well the future as the present, using their constant endeavours for the establishment of this our royal command, leave the said Districts and Pergunnahs in possession of the said Company, from generation to generation, for ever and ever. Looking upon them to be insured from dismissal or removal, they must on no account whatsoever give them any interruption, and they must regard them as excused and exempted from the payment of all manner of customs and demands. Knowing our orders on this subject to be most strict and positive, let them not deviate herefrom.
Written the 24th of Sophar, of the 6th year of the Jaloos, the 12th of Auqust 1765.
Contents of the Zimmun
Agreeably to the paper which has received our sign manual, our royal commands are issued, that the Chucklas of Burdwan, Midnapore, and Chittagong, and also twenty-four Pergunnahs of Calcutta, &c. (the zemindarry of the English Company), which were granted to the said Company in the time of Meer Mahomed Kossim, and Meer Mahomed Jaffier Khan, deceased, be confirmed to the said Company, as a free gift and ultumgau, without the association of any other person.
Chuckla of Burdwan.
Chuckla of Midnapore.
Chuckla of Chittagong.
The twenty-four Pergunnahs of Calcutta, &c. (the zemindarry of the English Company).
Fort William, 30th September 1765.
(A true copy.)
(Signed) ALEXANDER CAMPBELL, S.S.C.
ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE SHAH AALUM AND THE COMPANY.
The Nabob Nudjum-ul-Dowla agrees to pay His Majesty, out of the revenues of Bengal, Behar, and Orissa, the sum of twenty-six lakhs of rupees a year, without any deduction for batta on bills of exchange, by regular monthly payments, amounting to rupees 2,16,666-10-9 per month; the first payment to commence from the 1st of September of the present year: and the English Company, in consideration of His Majesty's having been graciously pleased to grant them the Dewanny of Bengal, &c., do engage themselves to be security for the regular payment of the same. It shall be paid month by month from the factory at Patna to Rajah Shitabroy, or whomsoever His Majesty may think proper to nominate, that it may be forwarded by him to the Court. But in case the territories of the aforesaid Nabob should be invaded by any foreign enemy, a deduction is then to be made out of the stipulated revenues proportionable to the damage that may be sustained.
In consideration of Nudjuf Khan's having joined the English forces, and acted in His Majesty's service in the late war, His Majesty will be graciously pleased to allow him the sum of two lakhs of rupees a year to be paid by equal monthly payments : the first payment to commence from the 1st of September of the present year; and, in default thereof, the English Company, who are guarantees for the same, will make it good out of the revenues allotted to His Majesty from the territories of Bengal. If the territories of Bengal should at any time be invaded, and on that account a deduction be made out of the royal revenue, in such case a proportionable deduction shall also be made out of Nudjuf Khan's allowance.
Dated the 19th of August 1765.
Fort William, 30th September 1765.
(A true copy.)
(Signed) ALEXANDER CAMPBELL, S.S.C.
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE NABOB NUDJUM-UL- DOWLAH AND THE COMPANY.
The King having been graciously pleased to grant to the English Company the Dewanny of Bengal, Behar, and Orissa, with the revenues thereof, as a free gift for ever, on certain conditions, whereof one is that there shall be a sufficient allowance out of the said revenues for supporting the expenses of the Nizamut: be it known to all whom it may concern, that I do agree to accept of the annual sum of Sicca rupees 53,86,131-9, as an adequate allowance for the support of the Nizamut, which is to be regularly paid as follows, viz.: the sum of rupees 17,78,854-1, for all my household expenses, servants, &c., and the remaining sum of rupees 36,07,277-8, for the maintenance of such horse, sepoys, peons, bercundauzes, &c., as may be thought necessary for my suwarry and the support of my dignity only, should such an expense hereafter be found necessary to be kept up, but on no account ever to exceed that amount: and having a perfect reliance on ul-Miaeen Dowla, I desire he may have the disbursing of the above sum of rupees 36,07,277-8, for the purposes before- mentioned. This Agreement (by the blessing of God) I hope will be inviolably observed, as long as the English Company's factories continue in Bengal.
Fort William, 30th September 1765.
(A true copy.)
(Signed) ALEXANDER CAMPBELL, S.S.C.
From: A. Berriedale Keith, ed. Speeches and Documents on Indian Policy, 1750-1921. Vol. I. London: Humphrey Milford, Oxford University Press, 1922, 20-27.