Q. What was the reason for Siraj-ud- Daulah to lose his Mansad?
(a) He had a very weak army
(b) His enemies conspired against him at home
(c) He could not control widespread economic distress
(d) He followed a very rigid religious policy
Ans: (b) His enemies conspired against him at home
Explanation: The correct answer is (b) His enemies conspired against him at home.
Siraj-ud-Daulah, the Nawab of Bengal, lost his Mansad (support and loyalty of the nobles) primarily because his enemies conspired against him at home.
Siraj-ud-Daulah’s rule faced opposition and internal conspiracies from various factions within his court. Many influential nobles and courtiers were dissatisfied with his policies and leadership. They formed alliances and conspired against him, seeking to remove him from power.
One notable figure involved in the conspiracy was Mir Jafar, a prominent noble of the Bengal court. Mir Jafar colluded with the British East India Company and other dissatisfied factions to overthrow Siraj-ud-Daulah and seize power for themselves. This conspiracy culminated in the Battle of Plassey in 1757, where Siraj-ud-Daulah faced defeat at the hands of the British forces led by Robert Clive.
While factors such as a weak army, economic distress, and religious policies may have contributed to Siraj-ud-Daulah’s overall challenges, it was primarily the internal conspiracies and betrayal by his enemies at home that led to his loss of Mansad and ultimately his downfall.