There were many battles fought in India for different purposes, but the two battles fought between 1600–1800 changed the future of India and all the Indians. They are:
i] Battle of Plassey:-
Siraj-ud-Daulah came to the throne of Bengal in 1756. But, the Britishers wanted to ascend the throne at any cost. So, they started to help his competitors by conspiring with them. When the British traders were unable to pay the taxes, they fortified the factory to get separated from the kingdom. This was enough for the king to opt for war, and he successfully expelled the company from his kingdom. But, the company was not able to digest it and so the company attacked the kingdom under the leadership of Robert Clive. Clive bribed Mir Jafar, the commander-in-chief of Siraj-ud-Daulah, with a promise to confer the throne of Bengal to him and convinced him to join their side. With his help, Robert Clive defeated and murdered Siraj-ud-Daulah. This was the first war fought by the British Company and which was the beginning of the British rule in India. Thus, the war became the turning point of the history of India.
ii] Battle of Buxar:-
As promised by the East Company, Mir Jafar was appointed as Nawab of Bengal. Robert Clive returned to England. Over time, Mir Jafar became hostile towards Britishers. Thus, Britishers decided to replace Jafar with his son-in-law, Mir Qasim.
Mir Qasim was clever, efficient, and disciplined. The problem arose between Nawab and Company on account of the non-payment of taxes, which brought both the faces against each other. In 1763, Company defeated Mir Qasim but he escaped. He reorganized his army along with the forces of Nawab of Oudh, Mir Qasim, and Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II.
Their combined forces met the Company forces at Buxar in 1764. The British East India Company won the battle and suddenly got control over Bengal, Avadh(Lucknow), and Mughal. That’s how, East India Company, a trading company, emerged as a political power in the subcontinent of India.
