Raja Ramnarain
By S. H. Askari
Summary
Continuing from an earlier volume, this article narrates the tumultuous events in Bengal after the death of Nawab Aliwardi Khan and the short, ill‑fated reign of his grandson Siraj‑ud‑Daulah. It focuses on Raja Ram Narain, the governor of Bihar, and his efforts to steer his province through political intrigue and warfare. As British, French, Maratha and local factions vied for power, Ram Narain faced accusations from all sides—of plotting against the Nawab, conspiring with the British, and harbouring personal ambitions. The author reconstructs his correspondence with Clive and other British officials, his military campaigns against Maratha raiders and his attempts to maintain order in Patna. Detailed accounts of the siege of Patna and the Battle of Plassey demonstrate how the British manipulated local rivalries to overthrow the Nawab. Rather than portraying Ram Narain as a traitor, the article presents him as a capable administrator caught between loyalty to his sovereign and the need to survive in a rapidly changing political landscape. His eventual defeat and disgrace illustrate the tragic consequences of colonial interference in regional politics.
Conclusion
The article concludes that Raja Ram Narain was a victim of circumstances rather than an architect of treachery; his fall underscores the complexity of mid‑18th‑century Bengali politics and the decisive impact of British intervention on the decline of the Nawab’s regime.