Battle Of Plassey: The historical clash that reshaped world history

"One battle can shape the course of history, changing the fortunes of nations for generations to come." Battle of Plassey is one of them.Impact of this battle shaped the fate of the whole Indian sub continent and later the world.

 

In the mid-18th century Indian sub continent was divided in many powers. The Mughal Empire, once the dominant force, was on the decline, and regional rulers like the Nawab of Bengal,nawab of Awadh,nizam of Hyderabad held significant influence.Bengal,one of the wealthiest powers in the whole world at that time was ruled by Siraj-ud-Daulah.   

At that time, European trading companies, especially the British East India Company and French East India Company, were fighting for control of India's lucrative trade. Their involvement went beyond trade, as both had established private armies and alliances with local rulers. Siraj was frustrated with the growing power and influence of the British East India Company, particularly their efforts to fortify their trading posts in Calcutta. Tensions reached a boiling point in 1756 when Siraj-ud-Daulah attacked and captured Calcutta. In response to the attack on Calcutta, the British East India Company, under the command of Robert Clive, launched a counter-offensive.

 

23 june,1757(The decider of fate):

Clive's mission was clear  to regain British control in Bengal and expand their influence in the region. With a force of only about 3,000 soldiers, including Indian sepoys, Clive faced Siraj’s massive army of nearly 50,000 troops.

On the morning of June 23, 1757, the two armies faced off near Plassey. Forces of Siraj were initially confident due to their numerical superiority. However, the betrayal by Mir Jafar(the army general) and his allies became the turning point not only for the battle of throne but also  fate of millions of people in the coming generations. The British forces quickly overpowered the Nawab's army, leading to Siraj fleeing the battlefield. He was later captured and killed.

Reason of failure despite having the upper hand:

There were some key factors for this loss.Main of  them were betrayal by key allies,lack of military strategy,lack of loyalty and unity among commanders and the weather with ammunition problems were the ultimate factor.

Aftermath of the battle: After winning the battle the British East India Company establish control over Bengal(The richest kingdom of that time in whole sub continent) through their puppet ruler. This marked the start of the East India Company’s political and military dominance in India later taking over the whole region. The Company began collecting taxes and revenues from Bengal, significantly boosting its financial position. The British heavily exploited Bengal’s resources. So much so that Bengal suffered three deadly famines in a time  period of almost 200 years.Wealth that had previously remained within the region was now getting  used  in  fund of  British expansion and investments elsewhere. Over time, Bengal's economy was drained, contributing to the decline in prosperity in the region.The wealth of Bengal was later used in Foundation of the British Raj,british dominance over the world and industrial revolution.

 

Without a doubt, one can argue that the Battle of Plassey was a turning point in world history. It signifies the start of British political and economic imperialism where Bengal was turned into a gold mine for Britain, at the cost of crippling local industries and rulers. The battle marked the beginning of the growth of British imperialism in India and later colonialism took full shape in the mid 19th century. The result of Plassey shows the devastating consequences the world is experiencing till this day.

Abdus Salam Nafis

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