Battle of Plassey

 The Battle of Plassey took place on June 23, 1757, in the town of Plassey, Bengal (now in present-day West Bengal, India). It was a pivotal battle in the history of India, marking the beginning of British colonial rule over the subcontinent.

The conflict was fought between the forces of the British East India Company, led by Robert Clive, and the army of Siraj ud-Daulah, the Nawab of Bengal. The East India Company had established trading posts in India and gradually expanded its influence, which caused tensions with local rulers.

Siraj ud-Daulah, the young and inexperienced Nawab of Bengal, was alarmed by the growing power of the British and sought to assert his authority. He captured the British-held city of Calcutta (now Kolkata) and imprisoned several Company officials in a small prison known as the Black Hole of Calcutta. This incident triggered the British response and led to the Battle of Plassey.

Robert Clive, with the support of other regional powers, gathered an army and marched towards Plassey to confront Siraj ud-Daulah. However, Clive was able to make alliances with some disaffected elements within the Nawab's court, including Mir Jafar, a commander in Siraj ud-Daulah's army.

On the day of the battle, Siraj ud-Daulah's army outnumbered the British forces, but they were poorly organized and lacked unity. The battle began with some initial exchanges of fire, during which Mir Jafar and his forces betrayed the Nawab and switched sides, causing significant disarray among his troops.

The betrayal of Mir Jafar tilted the balance in favor of the British, who launched a decisive attack and routed Siraj ud-Daulah's army. The Nawab himself fled from the battlefield. The British victory at Plassey was a turning point in the history of British India, as it enabled the East India Company to consolidate its power in Bengal and laid the foundation for its subsequent control over large parts of the Indian subcontinent.

After the battle, Mir Jafar was installed as the new Nawab of Bengal, but he remained a puppet ruler under British control. The Battle of Plassey marked the beginning of British political dominance in India, leading to the establishment of the British Raj, which lasted until India gained independence in 1947.