Q. “The Battle of Plassey (1757) marked the beginning of political supremacy of the English East India Company in India.” Critically examine. [10 Marks]

“प्लासी की लड़ाई (1757) ने भारत में अंग्रेजी ईस्ट इंडिया कंपनी के राजनीतिक वर्चस्व की शुरुआत की।” आलोचनात्मक परीक्षण करें। [10 अंक]

Ans:

The Battle of Plassey was a decisive victory of the British East India Company over the Nawab of Bengal, Siraj-ud-Daullah on 23 June 1757. The foundation of British empire in India was laid down in Bengal after the battle of Plassey on 23 June 1757 and this battle is often cited as the beginning of the political supremacy of the English East India Company in India.

The Battle of Plassey marked the beginning of political supremacy of the EIC:

• The Battle of Plassey had political significance for it marked the beginning of political supremacy of the English East India Company in Bengal as well as India.
• It saw a decisive victory of the British East India Company.
  • The battle established the Company rule in Bengal which paved the way for expansion over much of India for the next hundred years.
• It laid the foundation of the British empire in India; it has been rightly regarded as the starting point of British rule in India.
• The battle led to establishment of the military supremacy of the English in Bengal.
  • Their main rivals, the French, were ousted.
  • They obtained a grant of territories for the maintenance of a properly equipped military force, and their prestige increased manifold.
• The defeat of the Nawab of Bengal and the subsequent installation of Mir Jafar as a puppet ruler enabled the British East India Company to gain significant political power and economic control.
  • The new nawab Mir Jafar (1757-1760) became a puppet in the hands of the English. He was entirely dependent on the Britishers so as to maintain his position in Bengal as well as protection against foreign invasions.
  • He was an incompetent person. So through out his reign real power remained in the hands of the English. An English army of 6,000 troops was maintained in Bengal to help the Nawab.
  • The sovereignty of the English over Calcutta was recognised, and the English posted a Resident at the nawab’s court.
  • This battle marked the beginning of the Company’s direct involvement in Indian politics, leading to its eventual political supremacy.
• Plassey plunder:
  • What followed hereafter is often referred to as the “Plassey plunder”.
  • The Battle of Plassey placed at the disposal of the English vast resources of Bengal.
  • After Plassey, the English virtually monopolised the trade and commerce of Bengal.
  • Bengal was considered as the most prosperous province, industrially and commercially. The vast resources of Bengal helped the Britishers to conquer the Deccan and extend their influence over North India.
    • The French was unable to recover their lost position. In 1759, the British defeated a larger French garrison at Masulipatam, securing the Northern Circars. The Dutch was also defeated.
    • From commerce the English managed to exert an exclusive control on the administration too.
  • Immediately after the war the English army and navy each received the hefty sums of £275,000 for distribution among their members.
  • Apart from that, between 1757 and 1760, the Company received Rs 22.5 million from Mir Jafar; Clive himself got in 1759 a personal jagir worth £34,567.
  • Before the Battle of Plassey English Company was just one of the European Companies trading in Bengal and huge taxes were imposed by the Nawabs of Bengal.
    • Prior to 1757 the English trade in Bengal was largely financed through import of bullion from England; but after that year not only bullion import stopped, but bullion was exported from Bengal to China and other parts of India, which gave a competitive advantage to the English Company over its European rivals.
    • The tax and wealth earned from here helped the British to balance all of their trade liabilities.
    • Hence the Battle brought in a major change in the structure of the Company’s trade.
  • On the other hand, for the Company officials Plassey opened the gates to make personal fortunes, not only through direct extortion, but also through rampant abuse of dastaks for their private trade.
• The condition of the common of Bengal gradually deteriorated due to the weakness of the Nawab.
  • Lawlessness and continuous economic exploitation of the servants of the company broke the backbone of Bengalis who once upon a time used to lead a prosperous life.
• British built and trained an army with native Indian Sepoys who then fulfilled the ambition of further colonization.
  • The British East India company also  wanted to protect the rich colony of India for which it acquired buffer colonies in Singapore, Penang, Burma, Nepal, Malacca etc.
  • The British advancement in Asia was also aided by superior military and modern artillery and Navy.

Critical analysis:

• Though the Battle of Plassey was an important event, it was not the sole factor responsible for the English East India Company’s political supremacy.
  • The Company had already been expanding its influence and control in various parts of India through military aggression, diplomacy, and economic exploitation.
  • The Battle of Plassey acted as a catalyst that accelerated this process, but the groundwork for British dominance had already been laid through earlier battles and treaties.
• The Battle of Plassey was part of a larger pattern of British expansion and political dominance in India, rather than being sole event responsible for their political supremacy.
  • For e.g. :
    • in the Battle of Arcot in 1751, Robert Clive successfully defended the British East India Company’s interests against the French. This victory strengthened the Company’s position and set the stage for future conquests.
    • The Treaty of Allahabad in 1765, which followed the Battle of Buxar, further solidified British control over Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa.
• The role of economic factors in political dominance:
  • The Company’s monopoly over trade, particularly in the lucrative textile industry, allowed them to accumulate substantial wealth and exert influence over local rulers. This economic power, coupled with the military victories achieved in battles like Plassey, enabled the Company to establish its political dominance.

The Battle of Plessey ushered in a new era in the history of India and played an important role in the establishment of British political supremacy in India. It was a turning point not only in the history of Bengal but also in the history of whole of India. It has, therefore, been rightly remarked that the Battle of Plessey marked the end of one epoch and the beginning of another.  Though the Battle of Plassey acted as a catalyst, it  was not solely responsible for the political dominance of the East India Company in India and it was part of a broader strategy employed by the English East India Company, which involved military conquests, diplomatic alliances, and economic exploitation.

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