Murshidahad. On June 23, 1757 it was the scene of a battle fought between
the British forces and those of Nawab Siraj-ud-daulah. The former, under
Robert Clive, numbered 613 European infantry, 100 Eurasian soldiers, 171
pieces of artillery and 2,100 Indian infantry; the latter was estimated at
35,000 infantry, 15,000 cavalry, 53 pieces of artillery under the command of
40 or 50 Frenchmen. Considering the numbers involved, the losses on both
sides were insignificant, the English casualties being 52 sepoys and 20
Europeans killed or wounded, while the Nawab’s numbered about five
hundred.
    The agility of the English, coupled with their unscrupulous employment
of treason, intrigue and conspiracy in the enemy’s camp, were responsible for
the English victory. Only two generals, Mir Madan and Mohan Lal fought,
while the other three—Mir Jafar, Yar Lutuf Khan and Rai Durlabh—secretly
in league with the Company’s agents stood aside as mere spectators.
Results and Significance
The Battle of Plassey
Paved the way for the British mastery of Bengal and eventually the whole of
India.
Boosted the prestige of the British and made them a major contender for the
Indian empire.
Enabled the Company and its servants to amass untold wealth at the cost of
the people of Bengal.
Marked the beginning of the drain of wealth from India to Britain, that is,
economic exploitation of India by the British.
Battle of Buxar (1764)
Causes The causes for the battle of Buxar were:
Conflict for sovereign power between English and Mir Qasim, the nawab of
Bengal.
Misuse of the farman of 1717 and the dastaks by the British, and the
abolition of all duties on internal trade by the nawab.
Misbehaviour of the British with nawab’s officials and the oppression of the
local people by the company’s