Age only 18 years. A young man from Britain came to India as a clerk. Started job with East India Company at Madras Port. Then with his skills he entered the army and became the governor of Bengal province twice. He fought with France, fought with the Mughals, fought with the kings and after controlling everyone, he reached the highest position in the British rule. Name was Robert Clive.
It is said that he had the biggest contribution in looting India. Whoever looted, deposited it in the coffers of the British government and also filled his own coffers. Within no time he became the richest man in Europe. He was also accused of corruption. Investigation was also done. Such a powerful person left this world at the age of just 49.
The careless student who was expelled from school
Robert Clive was born on September 29, 1725. He was careless in studies from the beginning but his intellect remained sharp. He was more interested in sports. Was expelled from school several times. As understanding increased, he reduced his mischief and his studies also improved. After completing his education, in 1743 he started working as a clerk in the British East India Company. He was deployed at Madras port.
After four years, he got commission in the armed forces and became a military officer. Gradually his leadership abilities started to emerge. British officers started trusting him. Initially he fought with the French soldiers and also defeated them. Clive's enthusiasm had increased so much after achieving continuous victories in just a few years that in the year 1757, he participated in the war with only 32 hundred soldiers against an army of 50 thousand soldiers. This battle is known as the Battle of Plassey.
This proved to be a big turning point in his life because Britain established its dominance over Bengal after this war. Soon he became close to the British government. His name has always been at the forefront of strengthening the British rule in India.
Battle won after agreement
Siraj-ud-Daula had to face defeat in the battle of Palasi because of his commander Mir Jafar. Later the British made Mir Jafar the Nawab of Bengal. This battle was won by Clive after an agreement made with Mir Jafar before going to war. Mir Jafar had to help the British in the war and in return he was to get the Nawabi of Bengal, which he later got. The British won on two fronts simultaneously, the battle of Plassey and also the right to rule Bengal because Mir Jafar was the Nawab in name only.
The real rule was in the hands of the British. That is why in India, when any name is taken in case of treason, Mir Jafar's role is said to be the leading one. After winning many wars, he was faced with the challenge of eliminating corruption and anarchy from within the East India Company. He was successful to a great extent. He was also known as Clive of India. Along with Warren Hastings, he also played a big role in achieving political dominance. Clive, who started his career as a military officer, rose to the post of Commander in Chief of British India as Major General. During this period, Clive took part in about one and a half dozen wars. Led. Seeing his military and political skills, the British government made him the Governor of Bengal.
How much loot filled the British treasury?
Once someone senior to Robert asked him how much goods he looted from India and filled the treasury of the British government. His answer was that he doesn't remember at all how many times, from where and how much was looted, but he can make an estimate. The ship carries 70 thousand kilos of goods at a time and I have filled nine hundred ships and looted gold, silver and other expensive items and given them to Britain. From this it can also be guessed why India was called the golden bird?
In the year 1760, he went back to England and then in the year 1764 he was sent as Governor. Then Clive continued on the path of plunder, filling the treasury and strengthening the foundation of British rule. Reading history reveals that the British rarely resorted to direct plunder. They would create division among small kings and nawabs and then take lakhs of rupees from whoever they supported. And this sequence continued continuously. Every king and nawab looted the poor and gave it to the British treasury. The only reason behind this was an attempt to save one's dominance by any means.
The principle of divide and rule laid down by Clive was followed by every subsequent British officer. When Clive left India in the year 1767, he never returned. He was prosecuted for corruption in England. Although, he was acquitted but by then he was internally broken. Clive's death still remains a mystery. At some places there is information about suicide and at other places about natural death. However, suicide gets most of the attention. Despite achieving so much at a young age, he was heartbroken due to the lawsuit and ultimately said goodbye to the world at the age of just 49.
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