Siraj-Ud-Daulah was a Mughal ruler who also became the Nawab of Bengal in the 1756 AD. Siraj-Ud-Daulah succeeded his maternal grandfather Alivardi Khan. He was also known as Mirza Mohammad Sirajud Dawla, and was considered to be the last independent Nawab of Orissa, Bengal and Bihar. The start of the British East India Company was marked by the end of his rule over Bengal, and later, the Company got hold of all of south Asia. Siraj-Ud-Daulah was also known as ‘Sir Roger Dowlett’ by several British who were not able to utter his name properly in Hindustani.

The father of Siraj was Zain ud din, who was the ruler of Bihar and his mother Amina Begum was Nawab Alivardi Khan’s youngest daughter. Since the Nawab had no son, Siraj-Ud-Daulah, as the Nawab’s grandson, got very close to him and therefore his childhood was regarded by most people as successor to Murshidabad’s throne. He was raised accordingly at the palace of the Nawab with all required training and education necessary for a future Nawab. Young Siraj accompanied Alivardi in the year 1746, in his military endeavours against the Marathas. In the year 1752, Alivardi Khan officially announced his grandson Siraj-Ud-Daulah as the successor and Crown Prince to the throne, making not a single division in the royal court and the family.

Mirza Mohammad Siraj succeeded Alivardi Khan as the new Nawab of Bengal in the month of April 1756 and he took the name of Siraj-Ud-Daulah. His nomination to the nawabship triggered the enmity and jealousy of Ghaseti Begum, who was the eldest sister of the mother of Siraj, Mir Jafar Ali Khan, Raja Rajballabh and Shawkat Jang (the cousin of Siraj). Ghaseti Begam had huge wealth, and that was the source of her strength and influence. Thus Siraj seized her wealth and kept her in confinement. He offered top posts to his favorites. Mir Mardan became the Bakshi (the paymaster of the army) replacing Mir Jafar. Mohanlal was promoted to the rank of peshkar of his Dewan Khana and he had a vital influence in the administration. Lastly, Siraj suppressed Shaukat Jang, who was the governor of Purnia and was also killed in a clash.

The Battle of Plassey or which is famously known as the battle of Palashi is widely regarded as the turning point in the history of India, which helped open the doors to the British to have their hold on the country. After the conquest of Kolkata (Calcutta) by Siraj-Ud-Daulah, the British retaliated by sending fresh set of troops from Chennai (Madras) to regain control of the fort and take revenge of the attack. A withdrawing Siraj-Ud-Daulah confronted the British at the battle of Plassey, but deceived by a conspiracy of Mir Jafar, Umi Chand, Jagat Seth, Krishna Chandra, etc, the battle was lost to the British and Siraj escaped to Murshidabad and then he went to Patna with the help of a boat, but was finally arrested by the soldiers of Mir Jafar. He was executed on the 2nd of July, 1757 by Mohammad Ali Beg with the order of Mir Jafar.

Siraj-Ud-Daulah was glorified like a freedom fighter in Bangladesh, Pakistan and modern India because of his strong opposition to the British annexation. In his teens, Siraj was a reckless fellow, which dragged the notice of his grandfather. But a promise made by him to his great grandfather on his death bed, he abandoned the drinking and gambling habits completely after he became the Nawab. Siraj-Ud-Daulah was a furious fighter against the pirates of Southern Bengal and the Marathas during the 1740s, but he was fully routed by the huge British soldiers and the treachery of his near and dear ones.