Person · active 1757, at the Battle of Plassey (5 Shawwal 1170 AH / 23 June 1757) · commander of part of Siraj-ud-Daula's forces at Plassey, as the Seir Mutaqherin describes him — his cannon and infantry engaged and "served with effect"

Radja Mohon-lal (Raja Mohan Lal)

The officer of Siraj-ud-Daula's army who, by the Seir Mutaqherin's own account, was still pressing the English position at Plassey and refused an order to fall back — in his own recorded words — until repeated orders from the Nawab, relayed by the disloyal Mir Jafar, forced his retreat and broke the army's morale.

"That this was not a time to retreat; that the action was so far advanced, that whatever might happen, would happen now; and that should he turn his head, to march back to camp, his people would disperse, and perhaps abandon themselves to an open flight." — his reported answer, printed p. 233; the English translation of the original Persian, not the original-language text itself.

What the sources did with her afterwards. The Seir's own narrative places the order to retreat on Siraj-ud-Daula, passed through Mir Jafar's calculated stalling, not on any failure of Mohan Lal's own command — his cannon and infantry are described as still effective when the order reached him. The retreat he was made to carry out is what visibly broke the army's morale in the text, immediately before Siraj's flight.

Draft. This entry is an unreviewed first draft. It has not yet been checked by a subject reviewer — see sources and method.

His stand, in his own words, and the retreat that followed

The Seir Mutaqherin records that as the battle at Plassey went on, "Mohon-lal, who had advanced with Mir-meden, was closely engaged with the enemy; his cannon was served with effect; and his infantry having availed themselves of some covers and other grounds, were pouring a quantity of bullets in the enemy's ranks. It was at this moment he received the order of falling back, and of retreating."

His answer is given as direct speech: "He answered: 'That this was not a time to retreat; that the action was so far advanced, that whatever might happen, would happen now; and that should he turn his head, to march back to camp, his people would disperse, and perhaps abandon themselves to an open flight.'"

Siraj-ud-Daula, intimidated by Mir Jafar's coldness, "sent repeated orders, with pressing messages, to Mohon-lal; who at last obeyed, and retreated from the post to which he had advanced." The text states plainly what followed: "This retreat of Mohon-lal's made a full impression on his troops. The sight of their General's retreat damped their courage..".

Sources