SAMAJ WEEKLY UK
Bal Ram Sampla
Geopolitics
A Labour peer, Baroness Thangam Debbonaire, has called for the statue of Robert Clive, known as Clive of India, to be removed from outside the Foreign Office in Whitehall. The statue commemorates Clive’s role in British colonial expansion in India, including the Battle of Plassey and the Treaty of Allahabad in the mid-18th century. However, his legacy is controversial due to his connection with colonial exploitation and the Bengal Famine.
In my personal opinion, the statue of Robert Clive in Whitehall should not stand. Clive was not a hero. He was a man who got power through lies, bribery, and betrayal. After the Battle of Plassey in 1757, he took control of Bengal for the British East India Company. His rule brought high taxes, greed, and bad policies. These caused the Bengal famine of 1769–1770, where up to 10 million people died. While people starved, Clive made himself very rich.
Even in his own time, Parliament in Britain saw him as corrupt. They investigated him for stealing wealth from India and for buying power in British politics. Some MPs called him a “vulture” who fed off the suffering of others. His actions brought misery to millions in India — and shame to Britain.
The Black Lives Matter movement has pushed for the removal of statues of slave traders and colonial oppressors. Clive’s statue belongs in the same group. He did not make the world better; he helped destroy lives and cultures. To keep his statue is to celebrate cruelty and greed. It is an insult to people whose ancestors suffered because of him.
Taking down the statue will not erase history. It will stop the public from honouring a man who caused death, famine, and exploitation. His story should be told in books and museums — not through a grand statue in front of government buildings.
In short, the statue must be removed because Clive:
1. Helped cause famine that killed millions
2. Stole India’s wealth for himself and Britain
3. Was corrupt and dishonest, even by Parliament’s own judgement
4. Represents the cruelty of colonial rule
A man like this does not deserve a place of honour. The statue’s removal will send a clear message — Britain should not glorify those who built power on suffering and death.
References
