The Battle of Polashi, fought on June 23, 1757, in a mango orchard near the Hooghly River in Bengal, was a turning point in history that marked the beginning of nearly 200 years of British rule in the Indian subcontinent.

On that day, Siraj-ud-Daulah, the last independent Nawab of Bengal, faced the British East India Company troops led by Robert Clive. Despite having a significantly larger army, the Nawab’s forces were betrayed by Mir Jafar, his commander-in-chief, who accepted bribes from the British and withheld troops from the fight. This treachery ensured the Nawab’s defeat and marked Mir Jafar as a traitor for eternity. 

 

 After the battle, Siraj-ud-Daulah was captured and executed, and Mir Jafar was installed as a puppet ruler. The British then imposed heavy taxes, exploiting Bengal and profoundly impacting the lives of its people.  This event is one of the darkest spots in the subcontinent’s history.