Battle of Plassey (1757), Know Causes and Effects

The Battle of Plassey was fought on 23 June 1757, was a crucial event in Indian history that established British rule in India. It transformed the British East India Company from a trading entity into a dominant political power in India. The battle was fought near the village of Plassey (Palashi) in Bengal, on the bank of River Bhagirathi.

Chronology of Events

The Mughal Empire, which started with Babur, saw various rulers over time. After Babur, Humayun took over, followed by Akbar, and then Jahangir, who was the fourth Mughal Emperor. During Jahangir’s rule, Sir Thomas Roe arrived in India as an official ambassador of king James I of England to get permission to Trade in India. He aimed to win Jahangir’s favor through gifts and bribes, hoping to gain permission for the East India Company to establish trade factories in India. Sir Thomas Roe’s efforts succeeded, and in 1618 Jahangir allowed the East India Company to set up trading post in Gujarat. By 1647, the East India Company had established 23 factories across different parts of India.

Changes After Jahangir

After Jahangir, Shah Jahan became the Mughal Emperor. Following Shah Jahan, Aurangzeb ruled the empire. During Aurangzeb’s time, the French East India Company also arrived in India in 1664 and was granted permission to establish its own factories. Aurangzeb appointed Murshid Quli Khan as the Deewan of Bengal in 1700 CE. At that time, Bengal was a large area including present-day Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, and Bangladesh, with Dhaka as its capital. Murshid Quli Khan shifted the capital from Dhaka to Murshidabad in 1704. After Aurangzeb’s death in 1707, Bengal became increasingly autonomous and less controlled by the Mughals. After Aurangzeb Bahadur Shah I took over followed by Jahandar Shah, and then Farrukshiyar became the mughal emperor in 1713. In 1717 Farrukshiyar completely waived off all the Taxes and custom duties for East India Company and appointed Murshid Quli Khan as first nawab of Bengal.

In 1727, Murshid Quli Khan’s son-in-law, Shuja-ud-Din Muhammad Khan, was appointed Nawab of Bengal. He ruled until 1739. Shuja-ud-Din had a talented military leader, Alivardi Khan, whom he promoted to General of the Army  in 1728 and later as Deputy Subedar of Bihar in 1733. After Shuja-ud-Din’s death, Sarfaraz Khan became the Nawab of Bengal in 1739. Ali Vardi Khan, who did not want to remain a Deputy Subedar, killed Sarfaraz Khan in battle of Giria in 1740 and became the Nawab of Bengal.

Siraj-ud-Daula and the East India Company

Ali Vardi Khan ruled Bengal until 1756. After his death, his grandson, Siraj-ud-Daula, became Nawab of Bengal at a young age of 23. When Siraj-ud-Daula took charge, he noticed that the British were fortifying their position at Fort William. Because in 1756 Seven Years War started in Europe, where Britain and France were against each other. Both sides feared that the other might attack their positions in India. Additionally, the Maratha army was also attacking Bengal. Therefore, for security reasons the Britishers were strengthening their fortifications.

Siraj-ud-Daula was unhappy with the British actions and warned them to stop fortifying their position. On the other hand East India company was making lot of money by trading in India, but not paying any taxes. He also wanted to control the trade and collect taxes from the East India Company. With Farukh Siyar’s era over, Bengal was under Siraj-ud-Daula’s control, and he wanted to assert his authority. Siraj-ud-Daula asked both French and East India Company to stop fortification and pay taxes.

The Black Hole Tragedy

The French East India Company accepted Siraj-ud-Daula’s demands, but the British East India Company did not. Siraj-ud-Daula with his army attacked Fort William. Many British residents fled, but 146 people, including women and children, were captured and confined in a small room. The next day, only 23 of them were found alive; the rest had died from suffocation. This tragic event is known as the Black Hole Tragedy.

The Battle of Plassey

After the capture of Fort William, the escaped East India Company employees sent the message to colonel Robert Clive, who was in Madras at that time. Robert Clive marched to Bengal with 3,000 soldiers. Admiral Watson supported him by bombarding the Bengal port with warships. Siraj-ud-Daula, unable to resist the British Army and agreed to sign the Treaty of Alinagar. Treaty of Alinagar signed on 9 February 1757. According to the Treaty Fort William was returned to the British and granted them various privileges, including minting their own coins, don’t pay any taxes, building forts, and maintaining an army in Bengal.

Robert Clive then decided to remove Siraj-ud-Daula and made a deal with Mir Jafar, a senior commander, promising him the position of Nawab if he supported the British. Robert Clive also attacked the French East India Company’s factory at Chandernagar. Siraj-ud-Daula, seeing that the Britishers are overstepping their limits, then he decided to fight back. The decisive Battle of Plassey was fought on the banks of the Bhagirathi River. Robert Clive, with the help of Mir Jafar and his 3,000 soldiers, defeated Siraj-ud-Daula. Siraj-ud-Daula was killed, and Mir Jafar was appointed as Nawab of Bengal. Under Mir Jafar, the East India Company exercised control over Bengal, using him as a puppet ruler.

Effects of The Battle Of Plassey

The Battle of Plassey was a turning point in Indian history. It marked the beginning of British political control in India, transitioning from a trading company to a dominant political power. Historians view this battle as the start of British dominance.

1. British Colonial Rule: The British East India Company gained control over Bengal and expanded its authority across the country, initiating almost two centuries of British colonial rule.
2. Company Dominance: Shifting from trade to governance, the British East India Company started administering acquired territories, becoming a political power.
3. Treaty of Allahabad: The Treaty formalized British control over Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa in 1765, enabling British administration, tax collection, and decision-making.
4. Economic Exploitation: The British exploited India’s resources, imposing heavy taxes and trade restrictions, causing economic hardships for the locals.
5. Infrastructure Growth: Besides exploitation, the British introduced infrastructural advancements like railways, telegraph lines, and modern communication systems, linking different regions.