Battle of Plassey | Siraj-ud-daula | History in 1757

The Battle of Plassey was the result of the conflict between the Nawab of Bengal, Siraj-ud-Daula and the East India Company.  This war yielded very important and lasting results.  1757 AD  The Battle of Plassey was the war to establish British power in India.

The erstwhile interests of Bengal and English gave the East India Company an opportunity to intervene in Bengal politics.  In the past, Nib Nizam Alivardi Khan of Bihar took full advantage of the political uproar that took place after Aurangzeb's death.  He greatly increased his power.  He was an ambitious person.  He defeated the then Nawab of Bengal, Sarfaraz Khan in the war and himself became the Nawab.

Alivardi Khan died on 9 April.  Alivardi Khan had no children of his own, so after his death, who would be the next Nawab, some people started conspiring for succession.  But Alivardi had in his lifetime named his youngest daughter's son Siraj-ud-Daula as the heir.  Eventually the same thing happened.  Siraj-ud-daula became the Nawab of Bengal.

Siraj-ud-daula may have become a Nawab, but he faced many opponents.  Her biggest rival and rival was from her family and she was her aunt.  Her aunt's name was Ghasiti Begum.  Ghasiti Begum's son Shaukatganj, who was himself the ruler of Purnia (Bihar), dreamed of defeating Siraj-ud-daula with his Diwan Aminchand and friend Jagat Seth.  But Siraj-ud-Daula was already careful.  He imprisons the first dragged Begum and confiscates all her money.  This horrified Shaukatganj and pledged to remain loyal to Siraj-ud-Daula.  But Siraj-ud-Daula later defeated him and killed him in battle.

The East India Company had consolidated its position here.  The British were excited after defeating the French in the south.  But he also wanted to establish his dominion in Bengal.  But Alivardi Khan had already advised Siraj-ud-Daula that the British should not interfere in Bengal under any circumstances.  Therefore Siraj-ud-Daula was also suspicious of the British.

Siraj-ud-daula ordered the British to destroy Fort William Fort, which was turned down by the British.  In May 1756, an angry Nawab attacked.  On 20 June 1756, the Nawab also became the authority of Qasimbazar.

After that Siraj-ud-Daula also took control of Fort William.  Even before the authority, British Governor Drake fled with his wife and children and took refuge in an island called Fulta.  The British army that had survived in Calcutta had to surrender.  The Nawab returned to his capital Murshidabad after capturing several Britishers and handing over the responsibility of Calcutta to Manikchand.

In such a situation a black hole tragedy occurred which made the relationship between the British and the Nawab of Bengal even more bitter.  It is said that 146 British people were kept in a cell in Fort William, in which many people died of suffocation.

When the news of this incident reached Madras, the British were very angry and decided to take revenge on Siraj-ud-Daula.  Soon, Lord Clive and Watson from Madras proceeded to Calcutta with the army and bribed the Nawab's officers in their favor.  As a result Manikchand handed over Calcutta to the British without any resistance.  Later, the British also captured Hooghly.  In such a situation, the Nawab had to compromise with the British.

On 9 February 1757, Clive made a treaty (Alinagar Treaty) with the Nawab according to which all the facilities given to the British by the Mughal emperor were to be recovered.  The Nawab was forced to return all the confiscated factories and possessions to the British.  The company also received compensation from the Nawab.  The Nawab felt very humiliated from inside.

The British were also not satisfied with this treaty.  He wanted to remove Siraj-ud-daula from the throne and seat him to a loyal Nawab who acted according to his orders and did not obstruct his work.  Clive started conspiring against the Nawab.  He made a secret treaty with Mir Jaffer and was tempted to make the Nawab.  In return, Mirzafar assured the British to undertake the fortifications of Qasim Bazar, Dhaka and Calcutta, pay Rs 1 crore and bear the expenses of his army.  Jagat Seth, Rai Rare and Amichand also joined the British in this conspiracy.

Now Clive accused the Nawab of breaking the treaty of Alinagar.  The Nawab's position at this time was extremely pathetic.  The conspiracy of the court and the danger posed by the invasion of Ahmad Shah Abdali made him more fearful.  Clive departed with the army, realizing the Nawab's weakness.  The Nawab also left the capital and moved forward.  On June 23, 1757, the two armies met at Plassey's ground.  This war was a nominal war.  A large part of the Nawab's army did not participate in the war.  Despite the internal weakness, Siraj-ud-Daula's army led by Miramdan and Mohanlal faced the British force strongly.  Siraj-ud-Daula could have defeated the British, but the treacherous Mirzafar killed the Nawab Siraj-ud-Daula and the war ended.