British Conquest Of Bengal II

After British arrogantly declared that they will fill the pits ,not with soil but with the bloody heads of Bengal soldiers, how did Siraj respond?

An army of 3000 was mobilised to attack British. The British soldiers ran for their lives but 146 of them were captured.

They were forced into a small room and imprisoned there. One morning, when the door opened only 23 British could be seen alive.

Other died of suffocation, such was the size of the room.

How did Holwell explain this event? Were the numbers true?

He potrayed a draconian image of the Nawab. He described this incident as the incident of blackhole.

The numbers were manipulated

A famous historian Broken Gupta told that the numbers were manipulated. He said only 64 soldiers were clustered in the room. Out of them 43 were killed and rest survived.

How did British retaliate?

On the banks of Hoogly during winter , the British army fired bullets on Sirajs army

The Bengal army could not determine the source of the bullets. They could not figure out where exactly the British were firing from.

It was mist all around.

In panic and chaos Siraj Ud daulah, signed a treaty with British. The treaty of Alinagar.

Write down about the treaty of Alinagar.

After the treaty of Alinagar, the trade priveleges of British were restored.

-Factories reopened.

-Fortification was allowed now.

So in short this treaty put Siraj ud daulah in a position of bother.

Even after the treaty of Alinagar, was British happy?

Even after the treaty of Alinagar, Robert Clive was not happy. Clive wanted Siraj ud daulah to be dethroned.

He decided to send a message to Mir Jafar, the military general of Sirajs army.

And he desperately wanted to meet Mir Jafar.

But how? Omi chand comes into the picture. For 30,000 coins , Omi chand agreed to make the meeting happen.

In the meeting, what was Mir Jafar instructed to do?

Mir Jafar was told to not do anything.

British said kuch nahi karna tumhe. Aise hi nawab ban jaoge.

Kaise.

Jab sab kuch karna hoga, tab bhi kuch na karna.

Okay. It will be done.

When did Robert Clive send a declaration to Siraj?When did

14th June, 1757.

Clive sent a war declaration.

On 21st June, Siraj mobilised his army of 50000 men and reached Plassey.

On 23rd June, British came with a meagre 3000.

It seemed as if Clives army would be crushed and trampled over easily by an army of 50000. Before the battle began, the numbers spoke the opposite.

It seemed that Sirajs victory was inevitable.

But. What was that? Clive was smiling. Wicked and sinister. British charged. The neared the army of Siraj. But what is this? The Mughal army is not drawing their weapons. They are as still as a pond.

Only 2000 odd could be seen participating in the war.

It was not long, before Siraj figured out what exactly was going on.

The soldiers under Mir Jafar,48000 betrayed Siraj on the command of Mir Jafar. Back then, pseudo system was their in matters of military. According to this system, the soldiers would listen only to their commanders and not anyone else. Not even their kings!

So, as 2000 soldiers under Mohan Lal and Mir Madan were being slaughtered, the 48000 were standing cold, watching the battle.

What once seemed one sided, now seemed even, with a slight tilt towards Clive. And now Clive was the favourite.

On seeing that victory was impossible, Mohan Lal and Mir Madan advised Siraj to run away.

Siraj said” I am not a coward. I don't run away from a battle field.”

They both replied in unison “ Dear king, it is not a battlefield anymore. It is a sheer reason.”

Now, Siraj was convinced and he ran away, only to be followed by Mir Jafars son.

The horse of Mir Jafars son galloped away, closing in on Siraj. Finally, he got hold of Siraj and slashed his sword, spewing blood from the neck of Siraj.

The head of Siraj rolled along the groun and the Nawab of Bengal. Was. No more.

Mir Jafar became the Nawab now, as promised by the British. This was one of those rare times when clive kept his promise.