Riyaz al-salatin 112.2
The Riyazu-s-salatin (Abdus Salam) 112.2
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- English
112.2.1
When Siraju-d-daulah, after the fall of his cousin, arrived in Murshidabad, the chess-board of time presented a new game. Of the English, who had been routed by Siraju-d-daulah in Calcutta, and whose treasures worth several laks had been plundered, some escaped and fled to an island. Thence they sent messages to Enghxud and other ports, and in a short time obtained reinforcements. After some months, the English chiefs, under the command of Sabit Jang (Clive), with thirty thousand men, arrived on ships of war, obliged the garrisons of the Nawab's outposts to take to their heels, and fought with Rajah Manikchand. The Rajah suffered a heavy defeat. The English advancing to Hugli, rased its fortifications with the cannonade of their artillery, and the Faujdar of that Fort fled. Siraju-d-daulah, on getting news of the English victory, set out for Calcutta from Murshidabad, and encamped in the garden of Karhati, in the suburbs of Calcutta. The English made a night-attack. The next day, Siraju-d-daulah not having the boldness to advance, and outwardly proclaiming the conclusion of peace, marched back anxiously to Murshidabad. After arrival in Murshidabad, Siraju-d-daulah found that all the Nobles and Generals were disaffected. Foremost amongst them was Mir Muhammad Jafar Khan Bahadur, from whom the office of generalissimo had been transferred to Khwajah Hadi Ali Khan, and who had shut himself up in his house.
112.2.2
Siraju-d-daulah placing large batteries in front of Mir Jafar's palace was ready to blow him up, and ordered him to quit the City. Mir Jafar tendering excuses and apologies, secretly set about making warlike preparations in self-defence, and tampering with the Bhaliah Generals and Commanders and with Jagat Set. Ratifying their conspiracy by mutual oaths and promises, Mir Jafar sent secretly Amir Beg, who was one of his confidential adherents, with letters to Calcutta, asking the English troops to be sent. Amir Beg, by indulging in various assurances, induced the English Chiefs to set out from Calcutta and to march to Palasi (Plassey). When the moment for action had passed, Siraju-d-daulah on hearing the Watts, the English Resident at Murshidabad, was threatened. The Nawab went so far as to tear up a letter which Col. Clive had written to him. Soon after, however, from fear of his false courtiers and want of confidence in his own army, he tried to pacify Mr. Watts by a Khilat, and wrote an excuse to Clive. But Clive had already flung himself into the conspiracy headed by Mir Jafar, to dethrone Siraju-d-daulah. According to the Tarikh-i-Mansuri, the conspiracy was planned by Mir Muhammad Jafar, Aminchand Raura (generally called Omichand) and Khwajah Vizier, but according to the Seiru-l-Mutakherin, by Mir Muhammad Jafar, Rajah Dulab Ram and Jagat Set, who had each their agents in Calcutta. (See quotation from Seir given by me already in this note).
112.2.3
Clive treated with the conspirators through Mr. Watts. The author then gives a description of Clive's double dealings with Aminchand (Omichand) as given in all histories of Bengal." "Early in June 1757, Clive left Calcutta, reached on the 17th the small town of Katwah, south of Plassey, and took possession of the fort of that place.
112.2.4
On the 21st June, 4 p.m., Clive left Katwah, crossed the Hugli, and pitched his tents on the morning of the 23rd, in the fields of Plassey. The Nawab's army was now in sight. A cannonade commenced. The English attacked the tents of Siraju-d-daulah, but were vigorously opposed by Mir Madan (called Moodum Khan in Thornton, Vol. I, p. 240), one of the Nawab's faithful amirs. About 12 o'clock Mir Madan was struck by a cannon-ball and carried to Siraju-d-daulah's tent, where he died. The fighting was, however, continued, Mohanlal having taken Mir Madan's place. But nothing decisive was done. Afraid of a conspiracy Siraju-d-daulah sent for Mir Jafar, who had taken no part in the fight. After most earnest solicitations on the part of the Nawab, Mir Jafar promised to fight the next day, on condition that Mohanlal should be at once ordered to withdraw from the fight. Siraju-d-daulah agreed, and Mohanlal returned to his tents. But no sooner did the troops see their General had left the field than they became hopeless and began to flee. Before evening, the army of the Nawab had dispersed. This is the battle in which India was lost for Islam." See Blochmann's notes from the Tarikh-i-Mansuri referred to above.
112.2.5
The Seiru-l-Mutakherin's explanation regarding (p. 637, Vol. II), Clive's breach of the treaty with Siraju-d-daulah is apologetic in tone. The Seir states that the English had joined Mir Jafar's conspiracy, but as this wise race do not, without some substantial reason, engage in hostilities, or break treaties, they must have entered into some correspondence with the Nawab, and advanced some good reason (of which the author was not aware) for breaking the treaty of peace. Possibly the reason was found in the delay in the payment of the Nawab's indemnity on account of the losses sustained by the English during the capture of Calcutta by Siraju-d-daulah. I will now summarise the description of the battle of Plassey from the news of the advance of the English troops, marched out of the City. Now taking out the cotton of recklessness from the ear, Seiru-l-Mutakherin (Vol. II, p. 638). On hearing of Clive's movement, Siraju-d-daulah tried to conciliate his disaffected officers, who outwardly professed loyalty to him, but inwardly plotted his ruin. Siraju-d-daulah sent Rajah Dulab Ram (the traitor) ahead to Plassey, to supervise the construction of redoubts and entrenchments, and shortly after moved up there himself, with his faithful officers, Mir Madan and Mohanlal and with the traitor, Mir Jafar. Clive also moved to Plassey with a small number of English Telengi troops, numbering about 2,000 in all.
112.2.6
Clive commenced the battle with a brisk cannonade, whilst Mir Jafar stood by at a distance and watched the game. Mir Madan fought bravely till about 3 P.M., and steadily advanced with Mohanlal close to Clive's position. Seeing Mir Madan's gallantry, Clive, it is said, was dispirited and reproached Omichand for having falsely assured him that everyone was disaffected against the Nawab, and that no one would fight for the latter. As luck would however have it, at this time Mir Madan was hit by a cannon-ball and was removed to Siraju-d-daulah's tent, where he died. Siraju-d-daulah now becoming anxious sent for Mir Jafar, beseeched the latter to fight on his behalf, and even placed his turban before the latter, and addressed this arch-traitor as follows : " I now repent of my deeds, and in the name of relationship that you bear to me, and in the name of the bounties that you received from my grandfather, Mahabat Jang, I entreat you to defend my life and honour." The pathetic appeal did not move the heart of this arch-traitor who still harboured his treacherous designs under the mask of friendship and who returned the following false answer : " To-day is at its close, and the time for further fighting to-day is over. To-day, order the battle to cease; to-morrow I will fight for you with the whole army." Siraju-d-daulah fell into Mir Jafar's trap, and sent a message to his Diwan, Mohanlal, who was continuing the fight after Mir Madan's fall, to return.
112.2.7
Mohanlal said there was no time to return now, as he was in the thick of the fight, which would finally decide the fate. Siraju-d-daulah consulted Mir Jafar, who cunningly repeated his former treacherous advice, and in consequence Mohanlal was summoned back. Mohanlal's return had a disastrous effect on Siraju-d-daulah's army, who dispersed in all directions. Siraju-d-daulah then returned swiftly to Murshidabad, halted for some time at Mansurganj, but found he was surrounded on all sides by false courtiers and traitors. So he left with his Begams and gold for Bhagwangolah, whence on boats he sailed for Azimabad sending at the same time a letter to Mons. Las to join him. Before Las's arrival, Siraju-d-daulah was on his way to Patna. Owing to his Begams and children having had no food for some days, Siraju-d-daulah, whom misfortune was dogging, landed at Rajmahal, went to the house of a fakeer named Danu Shah, who undertook ostensibly to prepare Khichri for him, but who inwardly harboured resentment against the Nawab, owing to previous ill-treatment. This fakeer promptly sent news of Siraju-d-daulah's arrival to Mir Daud (brother of Mir Jafar), who was at Rajmahal. Mir Daud and Mir Qasim Khan he displayed towards the aforesaid Khan (Mir Jafar) flattery and endearment, and sending the Begam of Mahabat Jang to Mir Jafar opened the gates of apology for his past shortcomings. Mir Jafar did not listen to them, as he had no reliance on Siraju-d-daulah's assurances and actions.
112.2.8
After this, when Siraju-d-daulah advanced from Chunahkhali, the aforesaid Khan (Mir Jafar) also marching encamped at a distance of half a farsakh from the army of Siraju-d-daulah. Mir Madan, Superintendent of the Artillery, told Siraju-d-daulah that the English were coming at the instigation of Mir Muhammad Jafar, and that it was, therefore, expedient to finish first Mir Muhammad Jafar, and that after the latter was killed, the English would not have the daring to approach this side. In that the arrow of Fate cannot be parried by the shield of Effort, and in that God's decree had already been passed another way,