Battle_of_Plassey_Academic_Presentation.pptx

battle of plassey

1. The Battle of Plassey (1757) An Academic Overview By: [Your Name]

2. Introduction • The Battle of Plassey was fought on 23 June 1757 near the village of Palashi (Plassey) on the banks of the Bhagirathi River in Bengal. • It marked a decisive victory for the British East India Company over the Nawab of Bengal, Siraj-ud-Daulah. • This battle laid the foundation for British colonial rule in India.

3. Background and Causes • Growing commercial and political power of the British East India Company in Bengal. • Dispute between Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah and the Company over misuse of trade privileges. • Fortification of Calcutta by the British without Nawab’s permission. • The 'Black Hole of Calcutta' incident in 1756 increased tensions. • Secret alliances between British officials and discontented Bengali nobles.

4. Main Opponents • **Nawab of Bengal:** Siraj-ud-Daulah. • **British East India Company:** Led by Robert Clive and Admiral Charles Watson. • **Conspirators:** Mir Jafar, Jagat Seth, Rai Durlabh, and Omichand – key figures who betrayed the Nawab.

5. Course of the Battle • The battle took place on 23 June 1757 at Plassey. • The Nawab’s army had about 50,000 soldiers, 40 cannons, and several war elephants. • The British force had around 3,000 troops, including Indian sepoys. • Heavy rain damaged the Nawab’s gunpowder supplies. • Mir Jafar and other generals withheld support, leading to Siraj-ud-Daulah’s defeat. • Siraj fled the battlefield but was captured and executed later.

6. Results of the Battle • Decisive victory for the British East India Company. • Mir Jafar installed as the puppet Nawab of Bengal. • The Company gained control of Bengal’s vast resources and trade revenues. • Beginning of British political dominance in India. • Huge financial gains for Company officials, especially Robert Clive.

7. Significance • Marked the start of British colonial rule in India. • Bengal became a base for further expansion of British influence. • The Company transformed from a trading entity to a political power. • Shifted economic and political control from Indian rulers to British merchants and administrators.

8. Aftermath • Mir Jafar proved ineffective; replaced by Mir Qasim later. • Mir Qasim’s resistance led to the Battle of Buxar (1764), another British victory. • The Treaty of Allahabad (1765) granted the East India Company Diwani rights over Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa. • These events consolidated British control over Eastern India.

9. Historical Interpretations • Traditional view: British victory was due to superior military and strategy. • Revisionist view: Battle was more a political coup than a military conquest. • Seen as the beginning of India's economic exploitation and political subjugation. • Modern historians emphasize the role of internal betrayal and political intrigue.

10. Conclusion • The Battle of Plassey was a turning point in Indian history. • It signaled the decline of Mughal and regional powers in Bengal. • It marked the rise of British imperialism, setting the stage for nearly 200 years of colonial rule in India.

11. References • Spear, T.G.P., ‘A History of India, Vol. 2’, Penguin Books. • Marshall, P.J., ‘Bengal: The British Bridgehead’. • Indian History Texts – NCERT, Class 8–12. • Primary sources: Letters of Robert Clive, Company Records.