Battle of Plassey

As soon as East India Company got the news about the attack and occupation of Calcutta by Siraj ud-Daulah, it was decided by the Madras authorities to send Clive to restore the old position of the company in Bengal.

Clive had become a famous commander in South India. Besides carrying out the military operations, he conspired against the nawab through his wit and persuaded his close officers and the Hindu merchants to rebel against him.

The traders of Bengal favoured the company and opposed the rule of the nawab because they were not happy with his policies.

Siraj ud-Daulah wanted to maintain a balance between the French and the English and was also against the trade concessions granted to East India Company. By ending the privileges given to the company, he had asserted his authority.

The merchants of Bengal were in favour of the company because it had allowed them to use its ships to export their goods. The merchants knew that East India Company’s defeat will not be in their favour, therefore they began to work as the company’s agents.

Mir Jafar Ali Khan, a close associate of Nawab Siraj-Ud-Daulah, decided to support the company and Commander Khadim Khan also joined the league. These rivalries caused the Battle of Plassey that was fought in 1757 and due to his close acquaintances’ betrayal Siraj-Ud-Daulah was defeated, imprisoned and then killed.

In some history s written during the British rule, the nawab’s image has been deliberately spoiled by describing him as an inefficient ruler because it was in the company’s interest to portray a negative image of the nawab. By including false facts in history, the company wanted to hide its crimes. However, the truth is that Siraj-Ud-Daulah, from the very beginning, had realised the company’s bad intentions for Bengal and he wanted to end the company’s monopoly. He could not win the battle because of the conspiracy by his associates, however, he had already crushed the power of the company and occupied Calcutta.

As a result of the Battle of Plassey, East India Company became a political power in Bengal. The other parts of India did not take any notice of it as during the 18th century provincial powers had been emerging, so this matter was also regarded as a provincial-level trouble. However, the company and its workers took full advantage of this victory and used its power to further strengthen its financial position.