Palashi

Palashi (Bengali: পলাশী Pôlashi, pronounced [pəˈlaːsi]), also known as Plassey, is a village on the Bhagirathi river, located approximately 50 kilometres north of the city of Krishnanagar 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.

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).

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.