Battle of Plassey (1757): Timeline, Significance & Differences

The British East India Company (EIC) was engaged in huge corruption and also surpassing the superiority of Nawab of Bengal Siraj-ud-Daulah. The fortification of Fort William at Calcutta without the prior approval of the Nawab of Bengal made him angry. This growing resentment led to the Battle of Plassey on 23rd June 1757.

The then-governor general, Robert Clive secretly made a deal with Mir Jafar who was the military commander of the Siraj-ud-Daulah to betray the Nawab in the battle of Plassey.

In the battle, the Nawab was defeated by the British East India Company, which consolidated British dominance in the Bengal region of India. The decisive battle transformed a private trading company into a political power in British India.

• The death of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in 1707 was a turning point in the history of the Mughal dynasty. The Mughal empire became weak and numerous regional dynasties became independent. At that time, the Bengal region was one of the wealthiest provinces in India due to trade in silk, cotton textiles, saltpetre and food items. Thus, the British East India Company established the trade settlements near the coast of Bengal.
• Siraj-ud-Daulah became the Nawab of Bengal after the death of Alivardi Khan in 1756. But Siraj was opposed by his own court people like Mir Jafar, Rai Durlabh, Yar Lutuf Khan, Ghaseti Begum, and Jagat Seth (rich bankers).
• The British East India Company(EIC) had a long pending desire of controlling the polity and economy of the wealthier Bengal region. As a result, they strengthened Fort William at Calcutta, misuse of ‘Dastak’ (duty free trade rights), and intervened in the court of the Nawab of Bengal. However, Siraj-ud-Daulah ordered the Britishers to stop the fortification at Calcutta. After the refusal by the company, the Nawab captured Calcutta in June 1756. Although the British East India Company recaptured it in 1757 under Robert Clive.
• Moreover, the outbreak of the Seven Year’s War in Europe further worsened the Anglo-French relations in India. With the right opportunity, Robert Clive made a secret plan with Mir Jafar and promised to make him the new nawab of Bengal. This betrayal of Mir Jafar with the ambition of the British EIC led to the Battle of Plassey in 1757.

• Misuse of ‘Dastak’: The British EIC misused the duty free trade privileges or Dastaks resulting in the large financial loss to the Bengal region.
• Illegal Fortification: The British EIC did an unauthorized fortification of Fort William in Calcutta. Siraj-ud-Daula took it as a conflict with the authority of the Nawab of Bengal.
• Black Hole Tragedy: The Nawab of Bengal Siraj-ud-Daulah captured Fort William from British EIC in June 1756. He captured a few Britishers in a dark room or prison at Fort William at Calcutta. Here, many Britishers died due to suffocation.
• Backing Political Rivals: The British EIC had given protection like Krishna Das and prepared a strategy with the court members of the Nawab of Bengal.

The battle of Plassey was fought on 23 June 1757 was a decisive battle in the history of India. The victory of the East India company over the nawab of Bengal siraj-ud-daula reflected their political influence in the region and the military base needed to expand British power in India. The Significance of the battle of Plassey are explained in the following points.

• The battle of Plassey marked the beginning of the East India Company from just a trading body into a political and territorial power. This allowed the company to interfere directly in the administration of Bengal. Mir Jafar was made the Nawab of Bengal but he was completely dependent on the company.
• Bengal was one of the wealthiest provinces of India. The company received a huge amount of money, trade privileges and access to the revenue of the Bengal region. These revenues helped them to maintain a stronger army and sponsored future conquests in the other regions in India.
• The battle increased British prestige and weakened their European rival powers particularly the French. It showed that the East India Company may use diplomacy, military army and alliances with Indian rulers to achieve political control.
• The battle of Plassey exposed the weakness of the rulers in Bengal due to internal rivalry among the rulers of Bengal. The failure of Mir Jafar to support Siraj-ud-Daulah was a crucial event and a decisive factor for the British victory.

The battle of Plassey prepared the pathway for the battle of Buxar in 1764 which led to the British colonial rule over other parts of India.

What is battle of Plassey?

The battle of Plassey was fought between the army of the East India Company and Siraj-ud-Daulah army of Bengal.

When was the Battle of Plassey fought?

The Battle of Plassey was fought on 23rd June 1757.

Why did the battle of Plassey became famous?

The Battle of Plassey became famous due to its decisive beginning of British political dominance and the regional expansion in India.

What was the result of the battle of Plassey?

The battle of Plassey resulted in the victory of the British East India Company over Nawab of Bengal Siraj-ud-daulah. Mir Jafar became the Nawab under British influence in Bengal.