Day 4 – Q 1.The battle of Plassey marked the beginning of political supremacy of the English East India Company in India. Elucidate.

1. The battle of Plassey marked the beginning of political supremacy of the English East India Company in India. Elucidate. 

प्लासी की लड़ाई ने भारत में अंग्रेजी ईस्ट इंडिया कंपनी के राजनीतिक वर्चस्व की शुरुआत की। स्पष्ट करें।

Introduction:

The Battle of Plassey was a decisive victory of the British East India company over the Nawab of Bengal and his French allies. The battle consolidated the company’s rule in Bengal by defeating one of the strongest dynasties of the time. It was the first major event of East India company meddling into Indian politics and establish political supremacy over Indian provinces.

Body

It was the beginning of the political supremacy of the British as

• Sovereignty of British over Calcutta was recognized and established. The free trade and revenue from Bengal provided the company resources to expand their rule.
• British were able to install a puppet nawab ‘Mir Jafar’ who gave them 
  • A large sum of money as war compensation which was used by the British in their future conquests.
  • Zamindari rights of Bengal paraganas which upheld the taxing rights of British.
  • Allowed the British to maintain their army at the expense of Bengal (which later developed into subsidiary alliance by Wellesley).
  • Robert Clive controlled the political affairs of the Bengal who appointed a resident to assist (aka control) Mir Jafar in administration.
• It resulted in the ousting of the French from Bengal and left British without any rivals in economic exploitation of Bengal.
• It displayed the military supremacy of the British which helped in subsequent diplomatic efforts in expansion of British empire.
• Further, it is on the success of Battle of Plassey, British built upon their military power and allies which helped to defeat rivals in subsequent wars like Battle of Buxar etc.,
• It was after the Battle of Plassey (and later Battle of Buxar) Robert Clive started to introduce the political administration of British in India. This later evolved into regulating act of 1773 and so on. 

Thus, the British started to control the politics of Bengal and began to rule.

Conclusion

Battle of Plassey was of immense historical importance. It paved the way for the British mastery of Bengal and eventually whole of India. As Historian Edward Thompson noted, it boosted British prestige and the rich revenues of Bengal enabled them to organize a strong army. It also played a decisive role in Anglo-French rivalry and made the British the only contender of the Indian empire.