Mir Qasim was the Nawab of Bengal from 1760 to 1763.
13 Facts About Mir Qasim
2.
Mir Qasim was installed as Nawab with the support of the British East India Company, replacing Mir Jafar, his father-in-law, who had himself been supported earlier by the East India Company after his role in winning the Battle of Plassey for the British.
3.
Mir Qasim later fell out with the British and fought against them at Buxar.
4.
Mir Qasim's defeat has been suggested as a key reason in the British becoming the dominant power in large parts of North and East India.
5.
Mir Qasim's grandfather wrote Persian poetry under the pen name of Khalis, and a lengthy diwan is attributed to him.
6.
However, Mir Qasim soon ran into disputes with the Company over trade issues, as they objected to Mir Qasim's attempt to levy import and export tariffs on their goods.
7.
Mir Qasim vigorously opposed the East India Company's position that their Mughal license meant that they could trade without paying taxes.
8.
Frustrated at the British refusal to pay these taxes, Mir Qasim abolished taxes on the local traders as well.
9.
Mir Qasim invaded the Company offices in Patna in 1763, killing several Europeans including the Resident.
10.
Mir Qasim allied with Shuja-ud-Daula of Avadh and Shah Alam II, the incumbent Mughal emperor against the British.
11.
Mir Qasim launched a brief invasion of Hindu Kingdom of Nepal in 1763 during the reign of Maharajadhiraja Prithvi Narayan Shah, the first King of Nepal.
12.
Mir Qasim dispatched a military force under the command of his general Gurgin Khan to invade Nepal.
13.
Unlike Siraj-ud-Daulah before him, Mir Qasim was an effective and popular ruler.