Robert Clive's colossal Bengal loot after the Battle of Plassey (23 June 17

Robert Clive's colossal Bengal loot after the Battle of Plassey (23 June 1757) - how much money he took and how he spent it

By Dr M Ahmedullah

Zoom Talk (the link will be sent a few days before the event)

Tuesday

23 June 2026

6.30-8.30 pm

Host: Powers of History

For details please email info@powersofhistory.com

At the presentation, I will an idea of the:

1. Total official income that Robert Clive obtained from his Bengal conquest on 23 June 1757 – share of the spoils, annual revenue from a Moghul Jagir (1759-1774), returns from his investment from his share of the Bengal loot (rent from his estates and property dealings).

2. 2. Total expenditures – gifts to friends and relatives; purchase of properties and estates; improvement and renovation works; buying artworks, furniture, etc. I will also explore some of the political, social and economic reasons for his expenditures.

The founder of the British Indian Empire, Robert Clive, has been described as “Clive of India” and the Battle of Plassey as his “finest hour”. This was partly because he used his skills and genius to divide the enemy and score a spectacular victory.

Reportedly, Clive had under his command about 800 British and European forces complemented by about 2,000 native sepoys. On other hand, according to the victorious British, Sirajuddaula - his enemy, the Nawab (independent ruler) of Bengal - had 50,000 troops under his command, divided into five divisions. Each of the divisions was commanded by a general. They were Mir Jafar Ali Khan, Yar Latif Khan, Rai Durlan, Mohal Lal and Mir Madan.

When the two armies met at the field of Plassey on the morning of 23 June 1757, three of the Nawab’s commanders not only not join in the battle against the British forces but misled the Bengal ruler to a pathetic defeat. Only Mir Madan and Mohal Lal were loyal, who paid with the ultimate price to protect Bengal from the British forces.

On 13 October 1761, Robert Clive was allowed to call himself 'Baron Clive of Plassey, County Clare, in the Kingdom of Ireland', after he was given an Irish Peerage.

Dr M Ahmedullah

Over a period of nearly two decade, he ran many community initiatives on the East India company based in East London, including seven community projects culminating in the production of the same number of books: Plassey’s Legacies; Bengal to Britain: Re-creating Historic Fashions of the Muslin Trade; From Red Dragon to Nemesis; Heirlooms from Asia; Untold Stories of the East India Company; Jute, the Golden Fibre of Bengal: A British Empire Monopoly and East India Company Spice Wars Stories.