Q77
History of IndiaMughal Empire
Which Mughal emperor granted 'Farman' in 1717 to the British East India Company?
- a.Bahadur Shah II
- b.Shah Alam II
- c.Farrukhshiyar
- d.Muhammad Shah
Answer: (C) Farrukhshiyar
Farrukhsiyar (1713–19) issued the farman of 1717, often called the "Magna Carta of the Company". It allowed the English East India Company to trade in Bengal free of duties for an annual payment of ₹3,000, to issue dastaks (passes) for its goods and to rent more villages around Calcutta. It was obtained by the Surman embassy, helped by the surgeon William Hamilton, who had cured the emperor. Misuse of dastaks later caused friction with the Nawabs of Bengal and led towards Plassey. Shah Alam II granted the Diwani in 1765; Muhammad Shah "Rangeela" faced Nadir Shah's invasion in 1739; Bahadur Shah II was the emperor of 1857.