Battle of Plassey: Background and Result

Plassey or Palashi is a small village in Nadia district of present Indian state of West Bengal. The historic battle at Palashi was fought between the Nawab of Bengal and the British East India Company. But the result of the battle brought a remarkable turn in Indian history. Battle of Plassey marks the beginning of British colonial rule in India, period of a large economical plunder. The country which contributed 24% of world’s GDP, was completely sucked in next 190 years.

There is no place called Plassey exist in West Bengal. Plassey is the anglicised version of original word Palashi. The battle field of Palashi saw the historic war of Plassey on 23rd June, 1757. Robert Clive led a small British troop of 3000 soldiers. On the other side, Siraj ud Daulah had a much larger army of 50,000 soldiers. He also had the support for his french ally. But the war of Palashi brought decisive victory to the British.

The battle of Palashi also marks an event of political conspiracy. Dignity of motherland were put into stake for individual accomplishments. Foreigners were invited inside the homeland to demolish the value of blood relations.

Background of the Battle of Plassey

Historians majorly see the economic interest of British East India company. The realtion between Nawab Siraj-ud Daulah and the British was not at all healthy. Sol Robert Clive, the British general exploited the family conspiracy of Nawab. Majorly following four factors effectively worked at the background of the battle of Plassey:

1. Rivalry with British East India company.
2. Family conspiracy.
3. Unethical policies.

Rivalry with British

The British East India company began new fortification at Calcutta without seeking permission from Nawab Siraj-ud Daulah. This act of disrespect made Siraj furious. . In June, 1756, Siraj further launched the campaign of Calcutta. On 20th June, 3000 soldiers of Siraj ud-Daulah seiged the Fort William of Calcutta. Siraj put several British officers in prison.

During the seige, Siraj’s men locked 143 British prisoners in a 14 x 18 feet small dart room. Lack of oxygen led to choking of breath. Next morning, majority of the prisoners found dead, seriosly ill and traumatised. The incident defamed Siraj, as the offender of the infamous Balck Hole Massacre of Calcutta. Company sent Colonel Robert Clive and Admiral Charles Watson from Madras to retaliate immediately.

Family Conspiracy

Nawab Alivardi had declared Siraj as his successor of Bengal in 1752 itself. Alivardi Khan died in 1756. Siraj ascended the seat of Nawab as an automatic choice. But the family conspiracy continued at the back end. Mir Jafar was the prime conspirator against Siraj, despite of their close family relation. He was the nephew of Begum Sharfunnisa, the consort of Alivardi Khan. So, Mir Jafar aspired himself as the primary heir of Nawab’s seat despite the Nawab’s wish.

Siraj ud-Daulah, immediately after ascending the seat of Nawab, replaced Mir Jafar the post of Bakshi. He replaced Mir Jafar with his trusted person Mir Madan. This discontent led to Mir Jafar to intrigue. Ghaseti Begum was another opposition of Siraj ud-Daulah despite their close family relationship. She was the maternal aunt of Siraj. Ghaseti Begum tried to influence the court for selection of her own son Shaukat Jung as the Nawab. Siraj confined Ghaseti Begum at her Moti Jheel Palace and seized her wealth. So the family conspiracy against Siraj raised to the peak.

Unethical Policies of Siraj

Siraj ud-Daulah, demanded high tributes from rich merchants like Jagat Seth. Unethical policies and behavior of Siraj created serious distrust on them. Jagat Seth and Umi Chand therefore decided shake hands with Mir Jafar to remove Siraj ud-Daulah from the seat of Nawab. Their best option was to invite Robert Clive and provide him the financial backup. Commanders like Durlav Rai and Yar Lutuf Khan also agreed to participate in the ongoing conspiracy.

The Conspiracy Before the Battle of Plassey

The Black Hole Massacre of Calcutta acted as a catalyst to the Battle of Plassey. But Robert Clive was well aware that his army can’t beat Nawab’s army; comprising of 50,000 soldiers, including 20,000 cavalry. Nawab Siraj also had the French support, and about 40 canons of 32, 24 and 18 pounders. On the other hand, Robert only had 3,000 soldiers’ troop with 8 field guns and 2 small howitzers.

Therefore, Clive secretly met Mir Jafar at his house in Murshidabad. Umi Chand, a rich merchant of Bengal, acted as the agent between Clive and Mir Jafar. Robert Clive had also promised Mir Jafar to make him the next Nawab after they successfully execute Siraj.

The joint alley of Jagat Seth, Mir Jafar and Robert Clive prepared the plan. But Siraj soon sensed it. He immediately attacked Mir Jafar’s house (just before the battle). Mir Jafar, left with no option, promised Nawab to extend his full support against the British. With this understanding, Nawab promoted Mir Jafar as a commander of one big section of his army.

The Day of Battle at Plassey

The two sides finally met on 23 June, near the village of Palashi for the historic Battle.

Nawab divided his army into 3 major wings. Mir Jafar was leading the left wing, the closest arm to the British. The French wing had set up a small artillery troop. Mir Madan was leading the right wing. Both side started defensively. First three hours of battle didn’t show any noticeable progress. So, Clive thought for a surprise midnight attack and planned to withdraw his troops for time being. But, before taking the final call, he went for detailed discussion with his officers.

Heavy rain at the afternoon had a large impact at the battle of Plassey. British artillerymen had better knowledge of the weather of Calcutta. They acted smartly to cover their guns and ammunitions. On the other side, were unaware about the region’s weather pattern. All the artillery at the side of Siraj ud-Daulah completely drenched and became non-functional. Mir Madan assumed that the British artillery also gone non-functional.

So, Mir Madan decided to advance with his cavalry. But the British retaliated with heavy artilleries. Mir Madan died on the battlefield in an artillery shot. Heavy artillery firing and Mir Madan’s death had disarrayed Nawab’s men completely.

Nawab Siraj immediately called Mir Jafar at his tent and ordered to continue the attack to the British. But Mir Jafar urged, refused and finally left the tent. Soon after, the other commanders of Siraj, also withdrawn his troops.

In such situation, Nawab Siraj didn’t have any option left but retreat behind. He accordingly ordered Mohanlal to approach back towards Murshidabad. At about 14:00 hours, Nawab’s army started returning back leaving the French artillery troop alone in the battle field.

Bengal after the Battle of Plassey

Siraj was deeply disturbed, with the betrayal from his major commanders, refusing his orders at the last moment. He also sensed his life threat. Hence, he retuned Murshidabad on night of 23 June and planned to escape.

But Mir Jafar, the main traitor of historic Battle of Plassey, didn’t return to Murshidabad immediately. He sent a letter to Robert Clive, in the evening on 23rd June, willing to meet him. Robert Clive met Mir Jafar on the next morning. Clive ordered Mir Jafar to reach Murshidabad and capture and execute Siraj ud-Daulah.

Execution of Siraj ud Daulah

Mir Jafar reached Murshidabad on 24th June evening. Same night Siraj disguised and escaped with his wife and valuable jewelries towards Patna. Mir Jafar realized it and immediately sent multiple search parties to capture Siraj.

On 2 July 1757, Siraj reached Rajmahal. But to his fate, a local commander identified him. He immediately captured Siraj and handed over to Mir Miran, eldest son of Mir Jafar. Mir Miran executed Siraj ud-Daulah on the same night of 2 July 1757. His body, was however, taken back to Murshidabad and buried at the tomb of Alivardi Khan. The end of Siraj ensured the British took complete control over Bengal.

Rule of Puppet Nawabs in Bengal

Robert Clive reached Murshidabad and declared Mir Jafar as the new Nawab of Bengal. But despite of being a Nawab of Bengal, he remained a puppet to the British. He kept sharing majority of Nawab’s revenues to the British.

Loss in the Battle of Plassey caused elimination of the French from Murshidabad and Bengal.

However, Mir Jafar soon realized his lack of authority. He started encouraging the Dutch. By the end of 1759, the Dutch sent support with 1400 men in seven large ships. But Clive defeated the Dutch army in the Battle of Chinsura on 25 November 1759. He then deposed Mir Jafar and installed Mir Qasim as the next puppet Nawab of Bengal.

The Battlefield of Plassey Today

Plassey village of Nadia is located at 180 kilometer north of Kolkata, on the eastern bank of River Bhagirathi. As the river shifted further east in next centuries, a major portion of Plassey battlefield is now washed away. Surviving part of the historic battlefield hides beside Plassey Sugar Mill today, on the eastern bank of river Bhagirathi.

A war memorial of Plassey now stands at the battlefield, commemorating the martyrs of the battle. The monument is locally famous as Palashi Monument. A golden statue of Siraj ud Daulah was also added in 2007, on the 250th anniversary of the battle.

Archaeological Survey of India now preserves the war memorial. But people of India still commemorate the war of Palashi as a historic event of political betrayal. A shameful moment in Indian history when foreigners were invited to plunder own homeland.