Palashi

Palashi (Bengali: পলাশী, romanized: Pôlaśi, pronounced [ˈpɔlaʃi], Hindustani pronunciation: [pəˈlaːʃi]), anglicised as Plassey, is a village on the east bank of Bhagirathi River, located approximately 50 kilometres north of the city of Krishnanagar in Kaliganj CD Block in the Nadia District of West Bengal, India. The nearest major town is Beldanga. It has its own two local gram panchayat.

Plassey পলাশী Plassey
Town
Plassey railway station
Plassey Location in West Bengal, India Plassey Plassey (India)
Coordinates: 23.80°N 88.25°E
Country	India
State	West Bengal
District	Nadia
Government
• Body	Municipality
Elevation	17 m (56 ft)
Population  (2011)
• Total	19,984
Languages
• Official	Bengali, English
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	741156
Telephone code	91 3474
ISO 3166 code	IN-WB
Vehicle registration	WB
Website	wb.gov.in

It is particularly well known due to the Battle of Plassey fought there in June 1757, between the private army of the British East India Company and the army of the king of Bengal, Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah.[1]

Etymology

The name Palashi is derived from the Bengali word for the red-flowered tree পলাশ (pôlāś, English: Butea), (Latin: Butea frondosa or Butea monosperma). The Bengali word is ultimately derived from Sanskrit: पलाश, romanized: palāś. The British East India Company referred to it as ‘Plassey’.

History

Palashi achieved historical significance when, on 23 June 1757, the Battle of Plassey was fought between the forces of Siraj Ud Daulah, the last reigning Nawab of Bengal (and his French support troops), and the troops of the British East India Company, led by Robert Clive. This event, part of the Seven Years' War, ultimately led to the establishment of British rule in Bengal and, eventually, the whole Indian subcontinent. During British rule Plassey became part of Nadia District of Bengal.[2]

Geography

🌍

Cities and towns in Krishnanagr Sadar subdivision of Nadia district M: municipal town/ city, CT: census town, R: rural/ urban centre, H: place of historical/ religious interest, T: place of tourist interest. Owing to space constraints in the small map, the actual locations in a larger map may vary slightly

Location

Palashi is located in West Bengal, India at 23.80°N 88.25°E.[3] It has an average elevation of 17 m (56 ft).

Area overview

Nadia district is mostly alluvial plains lying to the east of Hooghly River, locally known as Bhagirathi. The alluvial plains are cut across by such distributaries as Jalangi, Churni and Ichhamati. With these rivers getting silted up, floods are a recurring feature.[4] The Krishnanagar Sadar subdivision, presented in the map alongside, has the Bhagirathi on the west, with Purba Bardhaman district lying across the river. The long stretch along the Bhagirathi has many swamps. The area between the Bhagirathi and the Jalangi, which flows through the middle of the subdivision, is known as Kalantar, a low-lying tract of black clay soil. A big part of the subdivision forms the Krishnanagar-Santipur Plain, which occupies the central part of the district. The Jalangi, after flowing through the middle of the subdivision, turns right and joins the Bhagirathi. On the south-east, the Churni separates the Krishnanagar-Santipur Plain from the Ranaghat-Chakdaha Plain. The east forms the boundary with Bangladesh.[5] The subdivision is moderately urbanized. 20.795% of the population lives in urban areas and 79.205% lives in rural areas.[6]

Note: The map alongside presents some of the notable locations in the subdivision. All places marked in the map are linked in the larger full screen map. All the four subdivisions are presented with maps on the same scale – the size of the maps vary as per the area of the subdivision.

Demographics

As per the 2011 Census of India, Palasi had a total population of 19,984, of which 10,288 (51%) were males and 9,696 (49%) were females. Population below 6 years was 2,700. The total number of literates in Palasi was 11,462 (66.32% of the population over 6 years).[7]

Transportation

Palashi is connected with Kolkata by railway and bus services. Lalogola passengers and few express trains stop in Plassey railway station. National highway no 34 also passes through the Palashi.

Culture and Memorials

Plassey Monument at the battlefield.

There is a Monument, commonly known as Palashi Monument established in memoirs of the martyrs of the battle. The Monument is protected and supervised by the Archaeological Survey of India. The grounds where the historic Battle of Plassey was fought is today marked with shrines, obelisks and memorials to the fallen generals and soldiers of Siraj Ud-Daulah. A set of three obelisks marks homage to the spot where Bakshi Mir Madan (the chief of the Nawab's artillery), Bahadur Ali Khan (Commander of Musketeers) and Nauwe Singh Hazari (the Captain of Artillery) were killed in the battle.

Three Obelisks of Mirmadan, Nabe Singh Hajari and Bahadur Khan near Plassey

A plaque indicates that they fell here at 2 p.m on 23 June 1757 and were leaders of Nawab Siraj-Ud_Daula, at the head of the charge ordered by Mir Madan.[8] Almost 5 km north from the Plassey battlefield, there is a Tomb of Farid Shah in Faridpur village, Dead body of Mir Madan was buried there.

Statue of Siraj

A gold coloured statue of Siraj Ud Daula lies next to the Palashi Monument, in a clearing amidst mango orchards and fields. The tombs of Siraj Ud Daulah, Mir Jafar, their wives and a number of generals in Siraj's army lie close by around Murshidabad.[9][10] Mausoleums built around the tombs of Siraj Ud-Daula, Azimunessa begum and other soldiers who fell in the war can be found close by at Khosh Bag and Jafarganj cemetery.[11]

In County Clare, Ireland, an estate owned by Major-General Robert Clive, was renamed Plassey in order to commemorate the Battle of Plassey and his successful part in it. At the nearby University of Limerick, the original office of the president was named Plassey House in the late 18th century, also to commemorate a family connection to the battle, and the building still serves as an important administrative centre of the university.

References

1. Robins, Nick. "This Imperious Company – The East India Company and the Modern Multinational – Nick Robins – Gresham College Lectures". Gresham College Lectures. Gresham College. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
2. Plassey – Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 20, p. 156.
3. Falling Rain Genomics, Inc – Palashi
4. Gangopadhyay, Basudev, Paschimbanga Parichay, 2001, (in Bengali), p. 70, Sishu Sahitya Sansad
5. "District Census Handbook, Nadia, 2011, Series 20, Part XII A" (PDF). Pages 13,14. Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
6. "District Statistical Handbook 2014 Nadia". Table 2.2, 2.4(a). Department of Planning and Statistics, Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
7. "2011 Census – Primary Census Abstract Data Tables". West Bengal – District-wise. Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
8. Barua, Ashis. "Palashi, Murshidabad". You Tube. Ashis Barua. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
9. Bhattacharya, Rajib Kumar. "War memorial at Palasi, Murshidabad". Flickr. Flickr. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
10. Bhattacharya, Rajib Kumar. "Photos of Murshidabad and Palasi". Murshidabad Travel Guide. Blogspot. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
11. Basu, Saurab. "Trip Taken from June – 10th to 12th – 2006". Murshidabad – The Land of the Legendary 'Siraj-ud-dullah' Unveiled. History of Bengal. Retrieved 19 June 2015.