Palashi

Palashi Plassey
Village
Palashi Railway Station
Palashi Show map of West Bengal Palashi Show map of India Location in West Bengal, India
Coordinates: 23°48′N 88°15′E / 23.80°N 88.25°E / 23.80; 88.25Coordinates: 23°48′N 88°15′E / 23.80°N 88.25°E / 23.80; 88.25
Country	India
State	West Bengal
District	Nadia
Government
• Body	Nagar Palika
Elevation	17 m (56 ft)
Population (2011)
• Total	19,984
Languages
• Official	Bengali, English
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	741156
Telephone code	91 3474
ISO 3166 code	IN-WB
Vehicle registration	WB
Website	wb.gov.in

Palashi [pəˈlaːsi]), also known as Plassey, is a village on the 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. It is particularly well known due to the Battle of Plassey fought there in 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 flower Pôlash (Bengali: পলাশ, English: Butea, Latin: Butea frondosa or Butea monosperma). 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 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

Palashi is located in West Bengal, India at 23°48′N 88°15′E / 23.80°N 88.25°E / 23.80; 88.25.^[3] It has an average elevation of 17 m (56 ft).

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).^[4]

Transportation

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

Culture and Memorials

Plassey Monument in 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.^[5] 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 Plassey 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.^[6][7] 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.^[8]

References