Answer to Question #235588 in Other for Mahfuz

Question

Briefly describe the background of Polashi Battle.

Answer 1

The Battle of Palashi was fought between Nawab Sirajuddaula and the East India Company on 23 June 1757. It lasted for about eight hours and the nawab was defeated by the company because of the treachery of his leading general Mir Jafar.

The battle had a long background that could be traced from the beginning of the East India Company's settlement in Bengal in early 1650s. The Mughal rulers of Bengal allowed the East India Company to settle in Bengal and trade free of duty on payment of an annual sum of three thousand taka.

With the accession of Sirajuddaula in April 1756, the conflict between the nawab and the English company became almost inevitable as the young nawab, for the first time, protested vehemently against the unlawful activities of the company in Bengal. The reestablishment of the company in Bengal after their defeat was possible in one of the two ways either surrendering to the nawab or to apply force to avenge the defeat.