The Nawab, gallantly enough, afforded shelter to the French fugitives at his court, and refused to drive them away even when the English offered in exchange military help against a threatened invasion of Bengal by the heir-apparent to the Mughul Empire. Generosity and prudence alike must have dictated the course of policy which the Nawab pursued, for in any war with the English the French support would have been of inestimable value to him. The English fully understood the danger of the situation. While the war was going on with the French, a Nawab of Bengal with sympathy for the French cause was an element of potential danger. A French force from Pondicherry might join the Nawab and renew in more favourable circumstances the policy of expelling the English which Dupleix had so brilliantly initiated in the Carnatic.
Hence the English leaders were bent upon replacing Siraj-ud-daulah by a Nawab more amenable to their control. A conspiracy was set on foot with the help of the disaffected chiefs, and it was ultimately resolved to place Mir Jafar upon the throne of Bengal. Mir J,far and Rai Durlabh, the two generals of the Nawab, as well as Jagat Seth, the rich banker, all joined in the plot. A regular treaty was drawn up (10th June) which stipulated, among other things, the reward to be given to the Company and to their chief servants in Calcutta for their military help. A difficulty arose at the last moment. Omichand, who acted as the intermediary, asked for a large share of the plunder, and Clive silenced him by a forged copy of the treaty in which Omichand’s demands were admitted. As Watson refused to sign this treaty his signature was forged at the instance of Clive.
The Nawab displayed a lamentable lack of decision and energy in this critical moment. After having drawn upon himself the wrath and inveterate hostility of the English by his support to the French fugitives, he ultimately agreed to send them away on the advice of his treacherous ministers. At the time of their departure the French gave him friendly warning of the conspiracy, which was evidently patent to everybody save the Nawab. His eyes were not opened until he came to know of the secret treaty. Even then he failed to act vigorously. Had the Nawab promptly imprisoned Mir Jafar, the other conspirators would have been struck with terror and the plot might perhaps have come to nothing. The Nawab’s courage, however, failed. Far from taking any energetic measures, he himself paid a visit to Mir Jafar (15th June) and made pathetic appeals to him in the name of ‘Alivardi Khan. Mir Jafar gave him most solemn assurances of support and the Nawab was apparently satisfied. He hastily began to make preparations for the wax, with Mir Jafar as commander of his forces.
Three days before this interview the English forces had left Calcutta on their expedition against the Nawab. So thoroughly did treachery pervade all ranks of the Nawab’s army, that littlor no ma opposition was offered to the English even by the garrisons at Hugli or Katwah. On the night of 22nd June Clive reached the mango grove of Plassey, on the bank of the Bhagirathi, where the Nawab was already entrenched with his troops.
The battle broke out on the morning of the 23rd June. On the Nawab’s side Mir Jafar and Rai Durlabh stood still with their large armies, and only a small force under Mohanlal and Mir Madan, backed by a French officer, took part in the battle. Had Mir Jafar loyally fought for the Nawab the English forces might have easily been routed. Even the small advance party made the situation too critical for the English. After half an hour’s fighting Clive with. drew his forces behind the trees. At eleven o’clock he consulted his officers. It was resolved to maintain the cannonade during the day and to attack the Nawab camp at midnight. Unfortunately a stray shot killed Mir Madan and this so unnerved the Nawab that he sent for Mir Jafar and accepted his treacherous advice to recall the only troops which were fighting for him. What followed may be beat described in the words of a contemporary historian, Ghulam Hussain, the Author of the Siyar-ul-mutakherin
“By this time Mohanlal, who had advanced with Mir Madan, was closely engaged with the enemy; I& cannon was served with effect; and his infantry having availed themselves of some overs and other grounds, were pouring a quantity of bullets in the enemy’s ranks. It wase at this moment he received the order of going back, and of retreating. He answered: ‘That this was not a time to retreat; that the action was w far advanced, that whatever might happen, would happen now; and that should he turn his head, to march back to camp, his people would disperse, and perhaps abandon themselves to an open flight.’ Siraj-ud-daulah, on this answer, turned towards Mir Jafar, and the latter coldly answered: ‘That the advice he had proposed was the beat in his power; and that as to the rest, His Highness was the master of taking his own resolutions.’ Siraj-ud-daulah, intimidated by the General’s coldness, and over- come by his own fears and apprehensions, renounced his own natural sense, and submitted to Mir Jafar’s pleasure; he sent repeated orders, with pressing messages, to Mohanlal; who at last obeyed, and retreated from the post to which he had advanced.
“This retreat of Mohanlal’s made a full impression on his troops. The sight of their General’s retreat damped their courage; and having at the same time ‘spied some parties which were flying (for they were of the complot), they disbanded likewise, and fled, every one taking example from his neighbor; and as the flight now had lost all its shame, whole bodies fled although no one pursued; and in a little time the camp remained totally empty. Siraj-ud-daulah, informed of the desertion of his troops, was amazed; and fearing not only the English he had in his front, but chiefly the domestic enemies he had about his person, he lost all firmness of mind. Confounded by that general abandonment, he joined the runaways himself; and after marching the whole night, he the next day at about eight in the morning arrived at his palace in the city.”
Sijaj-ud-daulah reached Murshidabad on the morning of the 24th. The news of his defeat created the utmost panic and confusion,in the city.- He made an effort to collect his forces, but both men and officers fled pell-mell in all directions. In vain did he lavish considerable treasures to induce the troops to stand by him, and then, finding no other way, he fled with his wife Lutf-un-nisi and one trusted servant.
