THE BATTLE OF PLASSEY
The Battle of Plassey took place on June 23, 1757 between the
private army of the British East India Company (headed by
Robert Clive) and the army of Siraj-ud-Daula (the Nawab of
Bengal) at Palashi, on the banks of Bhagirathi river near
Calcutta. The battle was a pivotal event in the history of
British colonialism in India. It marked the beginning of
British dominance in the Indian subcontinent and significantly
contributed to the establishment of British rule in India.
CAUSES/EVENTS
* Siraj-ud-Daula, the Nawab of Bengal, demanded that the
British should trade on the same basis as in the times of
Murshid Quli Khan. The British refused to comply as they
were feeling upbeat after their victory over the French in
south India. The officials of the Company made rampant
misuse of its trade privileges that adversely affected the
Nawab’s finances.
* Amid such tensions, the British began to fortify Calcutta
without his (Nawab) permission. This angered the Nawab and
took it as a direct challenge to his authority. He ordered both
the British and the French to demolish their fortifications at
Calcutta and Chandernagore. The French obeyed, but the
British refused.
, * The Britishers fortified Fort Williams without the
permission of Nawab which infuriated him further. He
marched to Fort Williams and captured 146 Britishers and
imprisoned them in a small room/cell due to which 123
Britishers died. This incident is known as “Black Hole
Tragedy”.
* Upon this, Robert Clive was sent to Bengal to strengthen the
position of Britishers in Bengal. He bribed some of the chief
members of the Nawab some including Mir Jafar
(Commander-in-Chief of Nawab’s army), Jagat Seth
(Influential Banker) and Omichand (A rich Bengal Merchant).
He promised the position of Nawab to Mir Jafar in return for
his betrayal to Nawab.
THE BATTLE
* Clive captured Calcutta at the beginning of 1757 and
compelled the Nawab to concede to all their demands. As a
part of the plan (to install someone more favourable to them
as the Nawab of Bengal i.e., Mir Jafar), the British placed
before Siraj-ud-Daula demands that were almost impossible to
fulfill.
* The Nawab as well as the British realized that the situation
was such that a war was inevitable. The war broke out and
was known as THE BATTLE OF PLASSEY (It was fought at
Palashi, on the banks of Bhagirathi river near Calcutta on June
The Battle of Plassey took place on June 23, 1757 between the
private army of the British East India Company (headed by
Robert Clive) and the army of Siraj-ud-Daula (the Nawab of
Bengal) at Palashi, on the banks of Bhagirathi river near
Calcutta. The battle was a pivotal event in the history of
British colonialism in India. It marked the beginning of
British dominance in the Indian subcontinent and significantly
contributed to the establishment of British rule in India.
CAUSES/EVENTS
* Siraj-ud-Daula, the Nawab of Bengal, demanded that the
British should trade on the same basis as in the times of
Murshid Quli Khan. The British refused to comply as they
were feeling upbeat after their victory over the French in
south India. The officials of the Company made rampant
misuse of its trade privileges that adversely affected the
Nawab’s finances.
* Amid such tensions, the British began to fortify Calcutta
without his (Nawab) permission. This angered the Nawab and
took it as a direct challenge to his authority. He ordered both
the British and the French to demolish their fortifications at
Calcutta and Chandernagore. The French obeyed, but the
British refused.
, * The Britishers fortified Fort Williams without the
permission of Nawab which infuriated him further. He
marched to Fort Williams and captured 146 Britishers and
imprisoned them in a small room/cell due to which 123
Britishers died. This incident is known as “Black Hole
Tragedy”.
* Upon this, Robert Clive was sent to Bengal to strengthen the
position of Britishers in Bengal. He bribed some of the chief
members of the Nawab some including Mir Jafar
(Commander-in-Chief of Nawab’s army), Jagat Seth
(Influential Banker) and Omichand (A rich Bengal Merchant).
He promised the position of Nawab to Mir Jafar in return for
his betrayal to Nawab.
THE BATTLE
* Clive captured Calcutta at the beginning of 1757 and
compelled the Nawab to concede to all their demands. As a
part of the plan (to install someone more favourable to them
as the Nawab of Bengal i.e., Mir Jafar), the British placed
before Siraj-ud-Daula demands that were almost impossible to
fulfill.
* The Nawab as well as the British realized that the situation
was such that a war was inevitable. The war broke out and
was known as THE BATTLE OF PLASSEY (It was fought at
Palashi, on the banks of Bhagirathi river near Calcutta on June
