Who was King Bhoja ?

According to Bhoja-Prabandha, early in his life, Bhoja suffered from intense headaches. Two Brahmin surgeons from Ujjain made him unconscious using an anaesthetic powder called moha-churna, opened his cranial bone, removed a tumor, and then made him regain his consciousness by administering another powder called sanjivani.

Siraj-ud-Daulah needed the French in Bengal as a counter balance to the increasingly aggressive English.
Clive marched on Chandranagar and, after bribing the Nawab’s general sent to intervene, took and destroyed the settlement on 23rd March 1757.

Siraj-ud-Daulah needed the French in Bengal as a counter balance to the increasingly aggressive English.
Clive marched on Chandranagar and, after bribing the Nawab’s general sent to intervene, took and destroyed the settlement on 23rd March 1757.

According to Tilaka-Manjari, composed by Bhoja's contemporary Dhanapala, Bhoja's feet had auspicious birthmarks indicating that he was fit to be a king

His uncle Munja (and his father's predecessor) loved him greatly, and appointed him as the king

There was a great king called Bhoja in the city of Ujjaini. The city was near a big forest. Lots of wild animals used to come from the forest in to the city and trouble the people.

This action on Clive’s part infuriated Siraj-ud-Daulah. He was just twenty years of age. English descriptions of Siraj-ud-Daulah give him as spoilt and inexperienced, in contrast to his adversary Clive, a highly talented and ruthless soldier and statesman.

So Bhoja decided to hunt for those wild animals and destroy them. One day he started in the early morning with large number of hunters and other assistants to the forest.

However, several later legendary accounts state that Munja was initially jealous of Bhoja, and tried to prevent him from becoming a king.

They hunted and destroyed lots of wild animals. By noon, they were all very tired and far away from the town. They then started searching for some water, food and a place to take rest.

In addition Siraj-ud-Daulah’s realm was constantly threatened with invasion on its western border by the Afghans and the Mahrattas, diverting his resources and attention from his problems with the English in the east.

For example, the 14th century Prabandha-Chintamani states that during the reign of Munja, an astrologer prophesied Bhoja's long reign. Munja, who wanted his own son to become the king, ordered Bhoja's killing.

Suddenly they saw a field of sweet corn. There was big well with water also in it. In the middle of the field, its owner called Saravana Bhatta, was standing on a platform and guarding the field from animals and birds.

Clive had many years experience of manipulating the native leaders against whom he was pitted. From his arrival in Bengal, Clive worked to corrupt Siraj-ud-Daulah’s generals and courtiers. As further war became imminent, with the destruction of Chandranagar, Siraj-ud-Daulah could rely fully on only a small number of his senior commanders, with many of the major interests in his capital, Murshidabad, committed to the English.

As soon as he saw them, he told them “Oh king, a hearty welcome to you along with your soldiers. Please take as much corn as you want and also use the water of the well. You can all take rest in the garden afterwards.”

Bhoja was appointed as the king by the royal ministers after Munja's death. According to a Gujarati legend documented in Rasmala, Munja ordered Bhoja's murder, but later appointed him as the crown prince.

The king was very happy and he along with the army entered the garden and started eating the sweet juicy corn. At this time Saravana Bhatta got down from the platform.

The one body of troops that Siraj-ud-Daulah would have been able to rely upon fully, Monsieur Law and his French troops, Siraj-ud-Daulah ordered to move 100 miles to the west, to Bhagalpur.

Suddenly he started shouting at them, “Hey cruel king, I am a poor man, some how living with the yield of this corn. If you all start eating the corn, how will I live?

Bhoja-Prabandha states that Munja ordered one Vatsaraja to kill Bhoja at the Mahamaya temple in Bhuvaneshvari forest.

Also the water in the well would be taken by you all. Then how will I water my corn plants tomorrow. Go away immediately.” Taken aback, Bhoja said sorry and asked his people to go away from the field.

After the capture of Chandranagar, Siraj-ud-Daulah and the East India Company Committee in Calcutta exchanged a long series of letters of complaint. During the three months of this correspondence Siraj-ud-Daulah moved his army to Plassey on the Bhagirathi River, 22 miles south of Murshidabad.

On hearing Bhoja's cultured manner of talking, Vatsaraja and his men abandoned the murder plan. They faked Bhoja's death, and presented to Munja a fake head and a verse from Bhoja.

While they were withdrawing, Saravana Bhatta again climbed on the platform.

Suddenly he started talking to them, “Oh great king, why are going away.