Robert Clive can truly be hailed as the greatest ever soldier of the modern Indian army which primarily inherits the legacy of the British. First raised as a part-time military outfit called the Companie of Trained Band in 1645 at Fort St George, Madras, the modern Indian army has evolved to a complete full-time status. But, this journey can never told without a glorified mention of Robert Clive who initially volunteered himself as a part-time soldier to release his martial dispositions but gradually went on to become the prime architect of the British Raj in India.
Battle of Arcot and the famous Battle of Plassey are the prominent feats where the amateurish approach of Clive in pure military terms can no doubt be hailed as the military genius. It was only on this day on 9 June 1752 that the professional army of French East Indian Company surrendered to the amateur army of British East India Company led by Clive. To get a full account of the battle, please refer this link:
Major General Robert Clive (29 September 1725 - 22 November 1774), 1st Baron Clive, K.B also known as the Clive of Plassey began his career as a Writer in the East India Company in 1744. The period was of great turbulences for British dominance over India as the French, the Dutch, the Portuguese and the native Princely states were all fighting for it. He volunteered himself as a part-time soldier to release his martial dispositions at Fort St George, Madras and was greatly responsible for the defeat of French and later Siraj-ud-Daula, the young Nawab of Bengal at the battle of Plassey on 23 June 1757. This battle in fact, laid the foundations of complete British rule over India. He also assisted Captain Stringer Lawrence (a superannuated British army officer hired by the East India Company who is also called as the father of modern Indian army) in raising India’s Regular Army before becoming the Governor General at Calcutta. In the year 1759, he raised a battalion of European volunteers to keep the Dutch at bay in Calcutta which was later called as the Calcutta Light Horse.
(Published by the team of TERRITORIALS)
