Battle of Plassey - 1757

• The Battle of Plassey was fought June 23, 1757 between the British East India Company and the Nawab of Bengal.

• It was a part of the Seven Years' War (1756-1763).

• The war was a decisive British East India Company victory over the Nawab of Bengal and his French allies.

• It was a turning point in India's History. It helps in establishing East End Company's rule in India which continued till 1857 after which the power was transferred to British monarchy.

• It is claimed that the British rule in India actually begun after the British defeated the Nawab of Bengal at Plassey in the Battle of Plassey.

• East India Company was in the competition for expansion in India from other European powers like French and Dutch. The company was trying to eliminate all the rivals. The trade was carried on with arms and posts were protected through fortification.

• In Bengal, Siraj ud-Daulah succeeded his maternal grandfather, Alivardi Khan as the Nawab of Bengal in April 1756 at the age of 23. He asked East India Company to stop fortification in Bengal. A few months after succeeding to the throne of the Nawab, Siraj-ud- daulah launched an attack upon Calcutta.

• He captured Calcutta and imprisoning several British officials in June 1756. The news of the fallen Calcutta reached Madras in August 1756. British responded by sending fresh troops from Chennai to recapture the fort and avenge the attack under the command of Colonel Robert Clive.

• Clive managed to drive out Siraj and his army by early January 1757.The British retook control of Calcutta and French fort of Chandernagar.

• On June 23, 1757, Siraj-ud-Daulah chose to fight at Plassey. The place was located on the banks of the Bhagirathi River near Calcutta and Murshidabad which was the public capital of Bengal.

• The British were worried about having fewer soldiers. So they formed a conspiracy with Siraj-ud-Daulah's demoted army leader Mir Jafar, Yar Lutuf Khan and Rai Durlabh.

• Mir Jafar, Rai Durlabh and Yar Lutuf Khan brought their soldiers near Plassey but did not actually join the battle. Siraj-ud-Daulah's army was beaten by about 3,000 soldiers of Col. Robert Clive.

• The battle was hardly fought more than 8 hours. Siraj-ud-daulah fled the battlefield on a camel. Later he was captured and executed by Mir Jafar's forces on July 2.

• The win the battle had actually started the British rule and company became more than a trading rule. As a reward for his treachery, Mir Jafar was made the Nawab of Bengal.

• The victory at Plassey effectively eliminated French influence in Bengal and saw the British gain control of the region through favourable treaties with Mir Jafar.