What were the causes and results of the Battle of Plessey?

Clive was anxious to start a war against Sirajuddaula but he was in search of a proper reasons for it he wrote a letter to Nawab about the violation of the terms of the treaty of Alinagar and without waiting for the reply of the letter he sent an army against Murshidabad.

Nawab also sent his army to face the invasion of the English and a pitched battle was fought between the two dries in the field of Plessey on 23rd June 1757 A. D.

The following reasons contributed to the outbreak of this significant war:

(a) The English wanted to establish their political, administrative and economic supremacy over Bengal for which it was essential to wage war against the Nawab. So they wanted to dethrone the Nawab, Sirajuddaula and denthroned Mir Jafar their puppet in his place and fought the decisive battle of Plessey.

(b) The relatives of Sirajuddaula opposed him. The English supported Shaukat Jang but they failed to remove Sirajuddaula. As Sirajuddaula began to watch their activities very minutely, they decided to remove him from the throne by all means.

(c) The English never respected the Nawab, hence the feeling of hatred also developed in the heart of the Nawab for the English. However, the Nawab wanted to strike a compromise with them but he failed and war broke out between the two.

(d) The British knew that in spite of all power and efficiency, the army of Sirajuddaula would prove to be worthless because of the traitors. The English concluded a secret treaty with Mir Jafar on 4thJune 1757. In enhanced the power of the English. However, the army of Sirajuddaula was strong enough to defeat the English but the teacher of Mir Jaffar mined him.

(e) Sirajuddaula thought the French to be more trust worthy than the English. He was also sad at the loss of Chandanagar and his defeat at the hands of the English.

The English pressurised the Nawab to outset and French from India and not to allow them to continue their trade in India. Moreover, some Frenchmen were serving in the army of the Nawab, so he could not out all the French from Bengal. Hence, the war was inevitable between the two.

(f) Clive had twice defeated the Indian army and he considered the Indian army no more than a mob which could be terrified by the sound of the bullet. As Clive had joined hands with Mir Jafar, the Commander of Sirajuddaula. Durlabh Rai and some other military personnel, he felt his position to be quite strong and so could think of making an invasion against Sirajuddaula who was surrounded by traitors.

Clive was in search of an opportunity and present so that he could attack the Nawab. He accused him of violating the term of the treaty of Alinagar and without waiting for his explanations, he despatched an army against the Nawab.

The Nawab also sent an army to face the enemy and on 26th June, 1757 A.D., both the armies fought a pitched battle in the 5 field of Plessey. When the victory of Sirajuddaula seemed quite at hand, Mir Jafar withdrew his forces and changed the tactics.

Sirajuddaula seeing the reluctance of Mir Jafar called him and placing his turban at his feet said. “Mir Jafar, the honour of this turban is in your hands. Mir Jafar took an oath of difelity bug the time of oath; he was neither faithful to Nawab nor this conscience.

Just after the departure of Nawab he sent a message to Clive for mounting a severe attack. He also directed him that in case, it was not possible to make such an attack just then, and he was not miss the attack in the night.”

Besides Mir Jafar, the Commander, Durlab Rai, the treasurer of Sirajuddaula also deceived him. He floated a rumour that the English were gaining victory and the soldiers of the Nawab were fleeing These news perturbed Sirajuddaula very much on the other hand Mir Jafar and Durlab Rai withdrew their forces from the battlefield and made no effort for the safety of the Sultan. Seeing the maneuvering of his own men, the Nawab was so-much disturbed that he ran away from the battlefield and the battle of Plassey came to an end.

After the death of Sirajuddaula, Mir Jafar was made the Nawab of Bengal. Ami Chand was extremely shocked when the real treaty and its provisions were related to him. He could not tolerated this shock and breathed his last just one and a half year after this incident, the battle of Plassey was not a big or significant event, but its results were very significant; therefore, this war is counted among the decisive wars of India.

The battle of Plassey ended Sirajuddaula’s rule in Bengal. The British made Mir Jafar their favourite, the Nawab of Bengal. The political results of this battle proved to be very farsighted. This war was in fact, a revolution. It gave a new turn to the history of India.

It not only extended the influence to the English in India but also founded the British Empire in India. The battle of Plassey turned the English merchants to be the rulers. The became the makers of Nawabs in Bengal. This battle disclosed the weakness of the Indians before the English.

The English understood that successes could be achieved in India only through conspiracies and intrigues. The Imperialistic designs of the English got boost when they saw the political and military weakness of India.

The battle of Plassey also disclosed that the people of Bengal were not satisfied with their rulers. Hence, the English patronised the dissatisfied Hindus and with their help they tried to attain success against the Muslim Nawabs.

The influence of the English was established in Bengal after the battle of Plassey. Bengal was very important for the English from the military point of view.

It was very difficult for the English people to establish their reign in south due to the power of Nizam and the Marathas. Bengal was quite far from these rising powers and the English could easily extend their empire through Bengal.

Besides this, Bengal was very near to the sea and the ruler of Bengal could make use of the water route for the expansion of his trace and military power. Actually, the control of the English on Bengal helped them in establishing their control over northern India.

The battle of Plassey proved fatal for the Mughal Empire. It not only let the province of Bengal slip from the hands of the Mughals but also disclosed the military weakness of the empire.

It also confirmed that instead of being servants of Mughal emperors, the English were the makers of Nawabs in Bengal. The rule of the English was established over Bengal after the battle of Plassey. Bengal had great significance from the economic point of view.

It was counted among the richest provinces of India After the establishment of the reign of the company over Bengal its resources considerably enhanced.

The English got lot of wealth after their victory over Bengal. Mir Jafar offered various jagirs to the Company and Clive and the soldiers got ample booty. Actually, the wealth that the English got from Bengal turned them from the position of merchants to that of the rulers of Bengal.

The battle proved to be important in many other respects. The victory of Plassey added to the prestige of the Company. But at the same time it exposed the moral decline of the Britishers who endeavoured their best to a mass wealthy by hook or crook.

Sirajuddaula was arrested after some days of the defeat of Plassey at Rai Mohal. He was brought to Murshidabad and put to death by Meeran, the son of Mir Jafar. Mir Jafar was declared Nawab on 24th June 1757 A.D. by Clive.