Forbidden history: Black hole tragedy - The hoax up on which the British conquered India
Most of us would have read about the Black hole tragedy in primary school. But have we been taught the real facts? Read on. The story: In 1752, four years before he died, the Nawab of Bengal, Alivardi Khan, declared his grandson Siraj ud-Daulah as his successor. When the Nawab died of dropsy in 1756, there was a clash for power between Siraj ud-Daulah, his maternal aunt, his cousin and his uncle Mir Jafar (then paymaster of the army who later became the Nawab of Bengal). By then, the British East India Company had already established its presence in India and was expanding its military capabilities in the country, foreseeing a french offensive. Fearing such an eventuality, they backed Mir Jafar to take the throne over Siraj ud-Daulah who they perceived would align with the French. This along with the growing power of the British and the never ending expansion of forces in the region did not go well with Siraj ud-Daulah who thought the British were planning to overthrow him. In ...