Shuja-ud-Din Muhammad Khan

Shuja-ud-Din Muhammad Khan (reigned 1727–1739) was the Nawab of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa, succeeding his father-in-law Murshid Quli Khan, the founder of the independent Bengal Subah during the declining years of the Mughal Empire. His reign is often regarded as a period of relative peace, prosperity, and administrative stability in the region. A skilled ruler and able administrator, Shuja-ud-Din successfully maintained the political autonomy of Bengal while ensuring nominal allegiance to the Mughal emperor in Delhi.

Background and Early Life

Shuja-ud-Din Muhammad Khan was born into an influential noble family of Mughal Bengal. His father, Mirza Lutfullah, served in the Mughal administration, while his mother was related to Murshid Quli Khan, the then Nazim (governor) of Bengal. He strengthened this familial and political connection by marrying Murshid Quli Khan’s daughter, which later paved the way for his succession.
He began his career as a subordinate officer under Murshid Quli Khan and soon rose to prominence due to his administrative capability and loyalty. Murshid Quli Khan appointed him as the Naib Nazim of Orissa, where he proved to be a competent governor by ensuring stable revenue collection and maintaining law and order.

Accession to Power

After the death of Murshid Quli Khan in 1727, Shuja-ud-Din was recognised as the Nawab of Bengal by the Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah Rangeela. His succession was smooth, largely because of his strong administrative record and the support he enjoyed among both the nobility and the Mughal court. He transferred the capital from Murshidabad to Madanahati near Murshidabad for a brief period, but the administrative machinery largely remained unchanged from his predecessor’s time.

Administration and Governance

Shuja-ud-Din inherited an efficient and centralised administration established by Murshid Quli Khan. However, unlike his predecessor, who was known for rigid fiscal discipline and harshness, Shuja-ud-Din was noted for his benevolence, liberal policies, and conciliatory approach.
Key administrative features of his rule included:

• Efficient Revenue System: He retained Murshid Quli Khan’s land revenue system but moderated its rigidity, reducing the burden on peasants and zamindars. His reforms improved agrarian productivity and enhanced the prosperity of Bengal.
• Judicial and Law Enforcement: He maintained effective law and order, ensuring security for trade and commerce.
• Religious Tolerance: A devout Muslim, Shuja-ud-Din nonetheless upheld religious tolerance and patronised Hindu officials and scholars. Prominent Hindus such as Rai Durlabh and Raja Fateh Chand held significant posts in his administration.
• Public Welfare: He initiated several welfare measures, including the construction of mosques, caravanserais, roads, and waterworks. His reign was marked by relative peace and prosperity for the common people.

Relations with the Mughal Empire

Although Bengal under Shuja-ud-Din functioned autonomously, he maintained formal allegiance to the Mughal Emperor in Delhi. He continued to send regular tributes and recognised imperial suzerainty in official documents.
The weakening of the Mughal central authority during Emperor Muhammad Shah’s reign allowed provincial governors like Shuja-ud-Din to exercise practical independence. However, Shuja-ud-Din skilfully balanced loyalty to the emperor with regional autonomy, avoiding direct confrontation with the imperial court.

Relations with the European Trading Companies

During his reign, European trading companies — particularly the British East India Company, French Compagnie des Indes, and Dutch VOC — expanded their commercial operations in Bengal. Shuja-ud-Din maintained cordial relations with them, recognising their economic importance while keeping a close watch on their activities.
He allowed them to conduct trade under strict regulation but ensured that their privileges did not undermine the sovereignty or revenue interests of the Bengal administration. His pragmatic diplomacy helped preserve Bengal’s prosperity and stability during an era of growing European competition.

Military Affairs and External Relations

Shuja-ud-Din maintained a well-organised army, primarily for internal security rather than expansion. He avoided unnecessary wars, preferring diplomatic and administrative solutions. The provinces of Bihar and Orissa remained under his control without serious conflict, and Bengal’s frontiers were secure throughout his reign.

Economic Prosperity

Under Shuja-ud-Din, Bengal’s economy flourished. The region was already one of the richest provinces of the Mughal Empire, producing silk, muslin, sugar, saltpetre, and other commodities. His moderate taxation, encouragement of trade, and protection of merchants contributed to unprecedented prosperity. Murshidabad continued to be a major commercial and cultural centre, attracting merchants, artisans, and scholars from across India and abroad.

Character and Personality

Contemporary accounts portray Shuja-ud-Din as a generous, mild-mannered, and just ruler. He was more inclined toward peace and good governance than military conquest. His sense of justice and tolerance earned him the affection of his subjects, while his administrative prudence ensured political stability.
Unlike the austerity and severity of Murshid Quli Khan, Shuja-ud-Din’s rule was marked by refinement, culture, and public welfare. Chroniclers such as Ghulam Husain Tabatabai in Seir Mutaqherin describe his reign as a “golden period” of Bengal’s eighteenth-century history.

Family and Succession

Shuja-ud-Din’s family played an influential role in the politics of Bengal. His son, Sarfaraz Khan, served as his deputy and succeeded him after his death in 1739. However, Sarfaraz Khan proved to be less capable than his father, and his short reign ended when he was defeated and killed by Alivardi Khan, who usurped the throne in 1740.
Shuja-ud-Din’s wife, the daughter of Murshid Quli Khan, was also known for her piety and influence in court affairs. His lineage thus represented the continuation of Murshid Quli Khan’s administrative dynasty in Bengal.

Death and Legacy

Shuja-ud-Din Muhammad Khan died in 1739, the same year as the invasion of India by Nadir Shah of Persia, which marked a major decline in Mughal authority. His death ended a period of relative calm and prosperity in Bengal. Within a year, political instability returned under his successor, leading to power struggles that eventually allowed Alivardi Khan to seize control.
Legacy:

• His reign is remembered as one of the most stable and prosperous periods in eighteenth-century Bengal.
• He preserved Bengal’s autonomy while maintaining loyalty to the Mughal Empire.
• His liberal administration and balanced fiscal policies sustained economic growth and social harmony.
• Historians often describe him as the most benevolent among the Nawabs of Bengal before the rise of Alivardi Khan and the eventual British dominance.