Battle of Plassey: Causes of the battle of Plassey

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 Causes of the battle of Plassey

There were several causes which led to the outbreak of the battle of Plassey are given bellow.

1. Personality of Sirajuddaula

He desired to use his powers as a ruler as effectively as were used by his predecessors while the English, emboldened by their success against the French in the South India, desired to engage themselves in fresh adventures and, therefore refused to accept his authority. He felt that the English not only refusing to obey his commands, but, probably intriguing with his enemies against him.

2. Internal conflict:

Internal conflicts among  the noble for getting throne .

3.. Refusal to accept the authority of the Nawab:

The Company did not give due recognition to the authority of the Nawab. They did not give presents to the Nawab as was the custom at the time of his coronation. At one time, the English refused him to give permission to visit their factory.

4.Protection given to the accused:

The relation between the English and Siraj was further strained when the former rendered support to Krishna Das, son of Rajballabh, who was formerly punished by the Nawab of Bengal. Krishna Das was a rich Bengali merchant who incurred the displeasure of the Nawab and was charged with falsifying of accounts

5. Imperialist design of the Company

The East India Company was no longer a mere trading Company. It had already entered into war in Carnatic. Likewise it wanted to extend its influence to Bengal province which at that time was considered a very rich and fertile province. It may be noted that the Bengal province at that time comprised Bengal, Bihar and Orissa

6.Misuse of the Royal 'Firman' and Dastak 

A 'Farman' was a royal decree issued by the Mughal Emperor. A 'Farman' of the Mughal Emperor Farrukh Siyar (1717) gave freedom to East India Company to trade without paying taxes. 

Military weakness

The English could see the military weakness of the Indian rulers including Sirajuddaula.The Anglo-French struggle in Carnatic wars had shown the military and political weakness of the Indian rulers. Their success and stronghold in the south encouraged them to establish British rule in Bengal. 

7 Fortification of Calcutta by the English 

The East India Company had very strongly fortified Calcutta. When Siraj-Ud-Daula came to power he asked both the French and the British Companies to demolish their fortifications. Whereas the French complied with the instructions the East India Company did not, on the plea that this defensive fortification was needed to save establishment from possible French attack.

8.. Weakness and unpopularity of the Nawab

The English wanted to take advantage of the new Nawab's weakness and unpopularity and seize power, if possible. In fact for some years past the English were aware of the rattan condition of Bengal, had become restive and were keen to throw off restrictions placed upon them by Alivardi Khan. By the middle of the 18th century, the English traders in India, and more particularly in Bengal, had formed vague ambition for territorial acquisition, which they thought desirable in the interest of their commercial enterprise, if not in the ultimate object of their policy in India

Events of the Battle of Plassey 

Black Hole Tragedy

Capture of Calcutta by the English

Attack on Chandernagar by the English

Conspiracy Against Siraj

Terms of the Treaty of Alinagar

Both the Britishers and the Nawab were ready to sign such a treaty and conclude peace at the earliest. The main reason for this was that the Britishers feared that the Nawab might not conclude a treaty with the French whereas the Nawab feared an attack from Ahmed Shah Abadali. The terms of the treaty were quite favourable to the Britishers. By the treaty:

 The Company was giveny the right to fortify its settlement at Calcutta. 

 The Company was also given the right to carry on free trade within Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.

  All the factories of the Company won by the Nawab during the battle were to be returned to it. . 

 The Company was to be suitably compensated for the losses suffered by it during the war. 

 The Company was also given the right to mint its own coins. 

The treaty was at best a truce. It was definitely favourable for the Company and to the disadvantage of Nawab, but even then the former was not happy with what it had got.

Results of the Battle of Plassey

 After the death of Siraj-ud-daula Mir Jafar was made the Nawab of Bengal.

 Mir Jaffar was forced to give costly gifts not only to the Company but also to Lord Clive and other officers and servants of the Company. It is believed that in order to satisfy greed of the servants of the Company, the new Nawab had to dispose of some of the house hold articles. It is believed that Clive got 2 million rupees as compensation and Watson more than a million rupees.

 The East India Company received a part of the promised money and then it was decided that the remainder be paid within the compass of three years by equal payments every six months. The East India Company received a part of the promised money and then it was decided that the remainder be paid within the compass of three years by equal payments every six months.

 Amichand was informed of the forgery and was paid nothing

 The East India Company established a mint at Calcutta

 The Company received the Zamindari of24 Parganas against the will of the tenants.

 The Nawab gave the Company full liberty of trade throughout his Subah.

 After the Battle of Plassey the English became the owners of trade market in India 

Significance of the Battle of Plassey

Regarding the importance of the battle of K.M. Pannikar writes, “Plassey was transaction in which the rich bankers of Bengal and Mir Jafar sold out the Nawab to the English.” The battle of Plassey had the following far reaching significance

Political importance

 Politically this battle is one of the most important battles of the world history. It gave a new turn to the history of India. It led the foundation of British Empire in India It opened the road for British conquest of Bengal where from they conquered the whole of India within a century. In the words of Sir J. N. Sarkar, "On 23rd June 1757, the medieval period of India ended and the modern period started."

Opened a new chapter in the history of India and England 

The battle of Plassey opened a new chapter in the history of India and England. According to Admiral Waston, 'The battle of Plessey was of extra-ordinary importance not only to the Company but to the British Nation in General."

Paved the way for exploitation and further expansion of the Company

The conquest of Bengal gave ample confidence to the Company that Indian rulers could be defeated without much force. This victory became the starting point of the British rule over India. One effect of this Battle was that Clive and the Company came to the conclusion that when-ever they needed money the best course was to change Nawab in Bengal and the money would follow

Economic Significance

The East India Company now became supreme political master in India and it did not remain merely a trading company. The resources of the Company very much increased. With the finances which the Company got from Bengal it could defeat the French in Carnatic and in whole of South. Since Bengal was a rich province and the Company was given the right of free trade

Military importance 

Militarily, the battle of Plassey had no significance. The larger part of the Nawab's army had not participated in the battle because of the treachery of Mir Zafar and Rai Durlabh. The success of the English was not due to their military strength or skill but because of the result of a conspiracy.

Increase of power and prestige of the English

Battle of Plassey was in fact a revolution which brought for the Subah a new Nawab. He was a mere figure head while the real power passed into the hands of Clive. The Nawab was to play a puppet in the hands of the English Company. He was not free any way. From now on whenever a Nawab tried to rid himself of the Company's clutches, he was deposed.

The Moral side of the battle

 The moral effect this victory of the English was undoubtedly very great. The new Nawab lost all prestige and respect. The loyalty and goodwill of the people to wars the Nawab disappeared and a scramble for the gaddi began

Other important aspects 

The battle also proved important in many other respects. The English Company and its officers and servants drew immense financial advantages. 

The Company was granted undisputed right to trade free of tax in Bengal. Bihar and Orissa. It received the Zamindari of twenty four parganas near Calcutta by the deposed Nawab, Siraj-ud-daula, 

The Company opened its first mint in Calcutta in 1757. The officers of the Company were also paid huge amounts of money as bribe or reward.

Thus, the success in the Battle of Plassey paved the way for the British conquest of northern India.

 The radical weakness of the native powers became known and the English began to carve out a place for themselves in the political life of the country. In course of a few years, the English defeated the Nawab of Bengal, Nawab Shuja-ud-Daula of Awadh and Shah Alam II, the Emperor of Delhi at Buxar. The English thus laid the foundation of the British rule in India.