MAJOR EVENTS

of
MODERN INDIAN HISTORY
(1707-1947)

[For Civil Service Preliminary & Mains

Examinations]

Edited by
PURNENDRA SINGH
TANYA SINGH
 IN MEMORY OF

Smt. MANOJ KUMARI

DEDICATED TO
My Parents, My Family and
My Wife Tanya Purnendra Singh
Preface
Acknowledgements
CONTENTS
 CHAPTER 1
THE MUGHAL ERA: DECLINE PHASE
(1707-1857)

BATTLE OF PLASSEY

Abstract: The eighteenth century world was an open field for

the European naval powers to test the waters across the globe.
The attraction for India lay in its fame in the world as land of
unending opportunities spice trade and seamless wealth thanks
to the splendid rule
and fame of the Mughals who by this time were on their last
legs. The English seized the opportunity with both hands to not
only get concessions from the fading Mughals but also to use
force and coercion to plan the gradual elimination and
extinction of Indian political entities. Plassey in 1757 is perfect
example of such type which has been presented as a A Battle
in textbooks. The paper attempts to narrate that the so-called
battle was actually a A plot conspired by the super rich
Marwaris and Jains and executed by a Thug of the British East
India Company—Robert Clive.

Introduction
Bengal in Eastern India was among the most peaceful and
prosperous areas of Asia and paid an annual tribute of ten
million rupees to the Mughal Court in Delhi around 18th
century. After the death of Mughal Emperor in 1707 C.E. no
successor could enforce the sovereignty of the Empire in the
far-flung areas of the Indian Subcontinent as a result many
states declared independence or were had only symbolic and
ceremonial connection with the Mughal Emperors for some
legitimacy. Bengal Oudh in Northern India and Hyderabad in
South India were prominent states which asserted
independence.

Alivardi Khan was the powerful and popular ruler of Bengal who
enjoyed support base among all sections of the region. He was
against the grant of any concession to the European powers in
his state and vehemently turned down the farman of the
Mughal Emperor to grant land to the English East India
Company around Hugli river in Bengal for trade and
construction of the Fort. The state was though not so opposed
to the French and Dutch companies which had trading centres
within the state and obeyed the terms and conditions.
European mercantile companies arrived at Bengals shores and
changed its history for all time to come.2 The English abused
the A rights privileges and concessions given by the state and
the Mughal Court.

Genesis
The origin of the strained ties between the English and the
Bengal Nawab commenced from the anchoring of the British
ships in Bay of Bengal. The English misused dastaks granted
to the British in 1717 by Mughal Emperor Farrukh Siyar. This
caused huge loss of revenue to the Bengal Nawab. British
supported Ghaseti Begum
and gave shelter to the son of Ghasetis treasurer in the Fort
William. English fortified Fort William with mounted guns
without taking the approval from the Nawab.
This alarmed the Nawab as it amounted to challenging the
authority of the Nawab.
The Fort was attacked by Bengal Nawab to reinforce his power
and stamp his authority over the province. This attack has been
blown out of proportion and termed by
the English Historians as ABlack-Hole which never was. Most
of the local tradition
and native historians have not given any account of any such
incident3. It is worthy
of note that the incident of the Black Hole finds no mention in
the Seir-ul-Mutakherin . And Holwell whose account is taken as
the proof was released by Sirajuddaula. The young Siraj-ud-
Daulah was also constantly threatened with invasion on its
western border by the Afghans and the Marathas.
The English were aware of this opposition from the state rulers
and were planning to cement their position since getting a
foothold in the state. As early as 1752
The East India Company planned to remove Sirajs grandfather
Alivardi Khan in
order to prosper. Before his death in April 1756 Bengal Nawab
Alivardi Khan nominated his grandson Siraj-ud-Daulah as his
successor. The decision led to intrigues
in the extended family of Alivardi Khan. On ascending the
throne he (Sirajuddaula) expelled Ghasiti Begum from her
palace and kept her in confinement. The En-