Dawn of British Rule in India - The "amazing" Battle of Plassey,1757

Positions of two forces
Red are the British

Nearly for 200 years India was ruled by the British. The British rule in India is remembered for the suffering of local people and exploitation of the country in all possible ways spanning from natural to human resources. But its also true that the it was under the British, that the fighting princely states of India were united to form majority of the country under one rule, although many were added afterwards but the rough draft of the country was drawn. It all started in battle of Plassey which was the battle that established British as the dominant force in sub-continent or we should say paved way for the British to establish their rule in the sub-continent. Although this was one of the main battles which became the reason for the British Rule in sub-continent majorly India and thus, is important part of history It just occupies nearly one paragraph or half a page (in case of some generous books) in our history books taught to children. We are made to learn the dates, between who and who the battle was fought and who won, but never are we told why did the British win or how the battle affected the future events and that's Indian education system for you.

For people who don't know anything here are some facts :
Battle was between the British and the Nawab of Bengal Siraj-ud-Daulah the last independent Nawab of India, the British were led by Colonel Robert Clive.  Nawab had wealthy states of Bihar and Bengal stretching to most of Bangladesh and Orrisa.

Date 23 June 1757 Location Palashi, Bengal Subah Result Decisive victory for the British East India Company Territorial changes Bengal annexed by British East India Company
Belligerents
British East India Company	Bengal Subah  French East India Company
Commanders and leaders
Colonel Robert Clive Major Kilpatrick Major Grant Major Eyre Coote Captain Gaupp	Siraj ud-Daulah Mohan Lal Mir Madan  † Mir Jafar Ali Khan(defector) Yar Lutuf Khan (defector) Rai Durlabh (defector)  Monsieur Sinfray
Strength
750 European soldiers 100 Topasses 2,100 Indian sepoys 100 gunners 8 cannon (six 6-poundersand 2 howitzers)	35,000 infantry 18,000 cavalry 53 field pieces (mostly 32, 24 and 18-pounders) 50 French artillerymen (6 field pieces)
Casualties and losses
22 killed (5 Europeans, 13 Indians) 50 wounded (15 Europeans and 30 Indians)[1]	500 killed and wounded

Since it can be seen that facts or stats are from Wikipedia obviously, since I am not good at statistics and by no means an expert in history.
Anyone just with a glance of stats can't help but, amazed on how come Nawab lost the battle.

Siraj-ud-Dualah had earlier captured Calcutta by attacking the British at Fort William due to the refusal of British to stop fortification of their positions in Bengal, in the wake of Seven Year war with the French in the west. He was aware of the global British interest in colonization and hence, resented the British politico-military presence in Bengal represented by the British East India Company. Since French were also present in Bengal at Chandernagar, the British and French began consolidating their positions, which to the Nawab, was an offensive act.

Jawaharlal Nehru in his book Discovery of India quotes:
"" In Bengal, Clive, by promoting treason and forgery with very little fighting , has won the Battle of Plassey in 1757, a date which is sometimes said to mark the beginning of the British Empire in India. It was an unsavoury beginning and sometimes of bitter taste has clung to it ever since.""

Treason as it is visible from the above facts, was from the Nawab's side. From 3 of his generals.
Mir Jafar Ali Khan was the main defector. The British(Clive) knew that the only way they can win this hopeless situation is to turn people against one another (sounds like still happening ) already major part of British army consisted of Indian soldier as the stats show. Mir Jafar was grand uncle to the young Nawab Siraj-ud-Dualah and since he was adopted by his grandfather Alivardi Khan who's death resulted in Siraj-ud-Dualah being made Nawab. Mir Jafar who considered himself legitimate heir to throne, became a General in Nawab's army. Though there was another contender elder sister of the deceased Nawab but the British and Clive(clever chap..) choose Mir Jafar Ali Khan and promised to make him next Nawab of Bengal. Finally, on June 5, 1757, a written agreement was signed between the Company, represented by Clive, and Mir Jafar, ensuring that Mir Jafar would be appointed Nawab of Bengal, once Siraj-ud-Daulah was deposed. It was also the classic case of military failures on the part of Nawab's army and relying on assumptions rather than getting first hand information from the battlefield.

On the eve before battle their were heavy rains and the gunpowder Indians had was drenched and those intelligent souls assumed that the British will also suffer same fate but British had their gunpowder covered, rest you can sum up. Moreover the French had provided them with their little artillery (goodwill, probably should have provided with a General to lead Nawab's army). French thought that with Nawab's army British had no chance and it would help them eradicate British from Bengal and country eventually. Sadly for French with Nawab's defeat their presence in Bengal ceased and eventually from country(this sounds familiar). The British acquired large amount of wealth from Bengal which helped East India Company to establish British Rule in India. Bengal was among the most richest and wealthiest state at that time. Though its another case that severe drought soon followed the British occupation.
As for that clever chap Robert Clive he was made first Governor of Bengal in 1765, interestingly he commited suicide after becoming addicted to opium.

Indian General lacked experience in unconventional warfare and on the other hand Robert Clive and the British had loads of experience in both conventional and unconventional treason forgery etc) from wars they fought in different conditions and different continents.Also before this the British had and were fighting series of wars or conflicts in Southern India and around Godavari delta. Therefore instead of panicking running like the Nawab's army did after brave general of artillery Mīr Madan died on being hit by a cannon ball, the British followed the orders and stood their grounds not to mention the agreement with Mir Jafar earlier. Though on first assault they were randomly firing in all direction since due to heavy fog there was not even walking visibility.

Re quoting Jawaharlal Nehru in his book Discovery of India :

"" In Bengal, Clive, by promoting treason and forgery with very little fighting , has won the Battle of Plassey in 1757, a date which is sometimes said to mark the begning of the British Empire in India. It was an unsavoury begining and sometimes of bitter taste has clung to it ever since.""

Plan of battle by Robert Clive

As fate would have it many more acts of treason like that of Mir Jafar continued and are happening till the present times affecting the country and its people. Moreover people are still fighting among themselves although the British and Robert Clive are long gone. Even today the country goes through same battles and with same results although the perspective has changed the scenarios have changed the times have changed and enemy has become from one to many both outside and within the country. As they say "history repeats itself", in this case history has repeated many times and still sadly no lessons learned. Its no longer about direct military wars there is a whole new set of warfare and proxy wars out there ranging from economic to electronic. Still you can see many Mir Jafar Ali kind of characters and even their approach has changed instead of supporting, now days these Mir Jafar's have moved a step ahead now they lobby for the enemy, surely times have changed.
Don't know why we consider it as just another battle in history. Probably it shows that we don't learn from our history or failures. This was and  is the main difference between us and the west history is for learning and thus should be respected and not considered irrelevant.
History teaches and repeats itself.

All above things are on net since I am no historian and like me if you want to take a look you obviously can.


""I knew that this battle was important in the history of India but was amazed when studied about it in detail and decided to share events with you""
There maybe some confusion on exact facts, who did what and statistics well which piece of history doesn't have its share of controversies and who cares. Overall I found the story was interesting and worth sharing.