Diwan Mohanlal (c. 1756 - 1757), was a Diwan of Siraj Ud Daulah, the Nawab of Bengal at Murshidabad. The Nawab made the decision of elevating a Hindu Kayastha bureaucrat named Mohanlal as his supreme Diwan[1]. The elevation of a Hindu to such a prominent position caused the Muslim nobility, and in particular Mir Jafar, great offense. Mir Jafar was then the head of the armed forces, second only to the Nawab, and the elevation of a Hindu to a post above him was taken almost as a personal insult.
On the day of 23rd June, 1757 in the Battle of Plassey, Siraj-Ud-Daulah faced off against the British, apparently with overwhelming force, but at the critical time Mir Jafar's men stood watching passively while the soldiers of Siraj-Ud-Daula were decimated by the smaller but much better armed British forces. In the said 'so called' battle Mohanlal and his fellow leader Mir madan fought their best on side of the Nawab Army. After the death of Mir Madan, he wanted to attack the british army rapidly and adviced Siraj-Ud-Daula that the decision of retreat may be fatal for the Nawab. But the Nawab was already misguided by Mir Jafar did not consider Mohanlal's opinion.
In popular culture
Mohanlal has been portrayed as a great patriot and the most trusted lieutenant of the nawab in the famous Bangladeshi movie 'Sirajud Daulah as well as in Indian movie 'Ami Sirajer Begam'. Bengali poet Nabinchandra Sen also symbolized his heroic resistance in his poem Palashir Juddho'