.jfif) |
| Robert Clive of British East India Co. Alamy.com |
 |
| old image, Clive Hostel, tempe and tank,Tiruchi, .madrasmusings.com |
Above image: Old picture of Clive Hostel Tiruchirappalli, TN with Ucchi Pillayar temple on the hill forming the backdrop; Teppakulam. in the the foreground,......
 |
| Clive Hostel, Tiruchirappalli. alamy.com |
Above image: Part of Clive Hostel(House) being managed by St. Joseph College. It is inside the fort area across Teppakulam. Ganapathy temple (Ucchi Pillayar Kovil) atop the hill forming the back drop. During his sort sojourn Robert Clive of EIC stayed here. It is part of European and Islamic structure. The Hostel for boys was closed several years ago due to some unwanted political situation when the DMK was in power. Now the Clive House is being used by Jesuits who study at St. Joseph college........
.jfif) |
| old image of mainguard Gate, Torchy nstagram.com |
.jfif) |
| Mainguard Gate, Tiruchirappalli,TN tamil.abplive.com |
Above image: Main Guard Gate( Passage) just across the popular St. Joseph College, Trichy. The fort area is inside, now bustling with business activities..............
Robert Clive, one of the most influential figures in British India, played a crucial role in securing British dominance in Southern India. His early military exploits in Tiruchirappalli (now in Tamil Nadu) during the mid-18th century were pivotal in shaping his career in his formative years and strengthening the British East India Company’s foothold in the region as well as in Bengal.
In 1751, the Carnatic region witnessed intense power struggles between Chanda Sahib, supported by the French, and Muhammed Ali Khan Wallajah, an ally of the British. Chanda Sahib had besieged the Tiruchirappalli fort, where Muhammed Ali had taken refuge. The British, facing leadership issues and a weakened army, found an unlikely leader in Robert Clive, a former clerk who had already demonstrated remarkable military acumen.
To relieve the siege, Clive devised a bold and risky strategy—attacking Arcot, the capital of the Carnatic, which was under Chanda Sahib’s control. With just 200 European soldiers and 300 Indian sepoys, Clive launched a surprise assault on Arcot in September 1751. Despite being outnumbered, he and his troops held the fort for 50 days against repeated counterattacks, forcing Chanda Sahib to divert his forces from Tiruchirappalli. This weakened his position, allowing British reinforcements to break the siege at Tiruchirappalli.
Clive’s success in Arcot and Tiruchirappalli not only secured British influence in the Carnatic but also earned him great recognition. British Prime Minister William Pitt the Elder described him as a "heaven-born general." His reputation soared, and his victory set the stage for future conquests, including the decisive Battle of Plassey in 1757in the bengal province.
During his time in Tiruchirappalli, Clive is believed to have lived in the fort area. Notable landmarks connected to him include Clive’s Hostel, now part of St. Joseph’s College, and the famous Rock Fort Temple. The strategic significance of Tiruchirappalli and Arcot in this period made them key battlegrounds in the Anglo-French struggle for supremacy in India.
This campaign marked Clive’s transformation from a civilian clerk to a formidable military leader, paving the way for British supremacy in India. His ability to strategize and execute daring military operations cemented his legacy in British colonial history. Knowing for his dishonesty, after his political and war exploits in Bengal, he returned to England with enormous wealth - most in the form of commission, coercion from the indian rulers.
https://www.navrangindia.in/2015/05/robert-clives-sojourn-in-trichinopoly.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Clive#Siege_of_Arcot
https://www.navrangindia.in/2016/06/tiruchrapalli-fort-of-tamil-nady-and.html
.jfif)
.jfif)
