The death of Alamgir in 1707 is generally regarded as the beginning of the gradual decline, and

ultimately fall, of the powerful Mughal Empire. The Battle of Plassey of 1757 is considered a major
breakthrough for the British in the Sub-continent. It paved the way for the company's rule in Bengal, and
hence the whole of India ultimately came under the company's rule.

The Mughal Empire reached its greatest extent in the time of Aurangzeb Alamgir, but it collapsed with
dramatic suddenness within a few decades after his death. . The successive rulers after Aurangzeb were
weak and lacked the character, motivation and commitment to rule the empire strongly. They had
become ease loving and cowardly. They totally disregarded their state duties and were unable to detain
the declining empire from its fall.

The first half of the 19th century witnessed a movement known as Faraizi Movement in East Bengal. At
this time the condition of the Bengali Muslims in the Sub-continent was very miserable. The British
policy of distrust and oppression towards the Muslims rendered them economically and educationally
crippled; and the oppression of the Zamindars made their lives unbearable.

The movement infused new life into the lives of the Muslims of Bengal. It wrought great agitation
among them.Thus, he sowed the seeds of independence in Bengal.

By 1845, the British Empire had expanded from Bengal to Sindh, and all that remained free was Punjab.
The Sikhs were ruling over Punjab and after the Second Sikh War in 1848, the British gained control over
the Indus.

. Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last Mughal King, was compelled to lead the freedom fighters. In Bahadur
Shah Zafar, the rebels found a symbol of freedom, but a mere symbol was all he was.

The initial success of the freedom fighters gave a boost to the War of Independence.

However, the British forces at Meerut and Ambala put up a resolute resistance to the royal army and
held them back for several months. The British proved to be a formidable foe with their superior
weapons and better strategy. The freedom fighters badly lacked in adequate resources and their
planning proved to be extremely brittle. The British quickly regained control of Delhi. They took revenge
in the most gruesome manner by killing innocent people indiscriminately. After the War of
Independence in 1857, the British government assumed sovereignty over the lands of the British East
India Company. The British control over the Sub-continent grew in the next 50 years and culminated in
the British Raj.

The British thus became masters of India, where for nearly 800 years Muslims had ruled. However, their
attitude towards the Muslims was that of antipathy. . As a result, property belonging to Muslims was
confiscated and they were denied employment opportunities.

By a series of revenue and financial measures, the British smashed the political and social position of the
Muslims.

(1905), division of Bengal carried out by the British viceroy in India. . It began a transformation of
the Indian National Congress from a middle-class pressure group into a nationwide mass movement.

In 1911, east and west Bengal were reunited. The aim was to combine appeasement of
Bengali sentiment with administrative convenience. This end was achieved for a time, but the Bengali
Muslims, having benefitted from partition, were angry and disappointed. This resentment remained
throughout the rest of the British period.