Name the river that flows beside the historic village of Plassey in Bengal, the site associated with the famous Battle of Plassey.

Introduction / Context:
This question connects Indian history with basic geography. The Battle of Plassey in 1757 marked a turning point in the history of British rule in India. Knowing not only the event but also the physical geography around the battle site deepens understanding of how rivers and terrain influenced military campaigns. The historic village of Plassey, also written as Palashi, lies near an important distributary of the Ganga system in Bengal.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The location is the historic village of Plassey in Bengal.
• We are asked to name the river that flows beside this village.
• Options list four rivers associated with eastern India.
• We assume the commonly accepted school level answer used in many history and general knowledge sources.

Concept / Approach:
Plassey is located on the banks of a branch of the Ganga river system. Many school textbooks and examination oriented materials mention the Bhagirathi River as the river near the battle site. The Bhagirathi and Hooghly can be considered parts of the same river system at different stretches and under different local names, but in many general knowledge questions the answer highlighted is Bhagirathi. Therefore, we identify Bhagirathi River as the correct option for this style of question.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Battle of Plassey took place near the banks of a distributary of the Ganga in Bengal. Step 2: Think of the river names associated with that region, especially Bhagirathi and Hooghly. Step 3: Remember that exam focused summaries often state that Plassey stands on the bank of the Bhagirathi River. Step 4: Select Bhagirathi River from the given options and reject the other rivers.

Verification / Alternative check:
Verification can be done by consulting school history textbooks or detailed articles on the Battle of Plassey. Many references describe the battle as being fought near the Bhagirathi branch of the Ganga. Some international references use the term Hooghly, which is essentially another name used for part of the same river system. For competitive exam purposes, following the phrasing used in standard Indian question banks is a reliable strategy.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
The main Ganga River is the parent river of the region, but the immediate river beside Plassey is more specifically identified as the Bhagirathi branch. The name Hooghly is used for another stretch of the same system and is not the expected answer in this commonly repeated question. Damodar River flows in eastern India too but it is not associated with the Battle of Plassey or the village of Plassey.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners can become confused between Bhagirathi and Hooghly due to overlapping usage and because both are linked to the broader Ganga system. Another pitfall is to choose Ganga River directly, thinking of the main river instead of its branch. To avoid mistakes, it is helpful to memorise the more precise exam friendly formulation that Plassey lies on the bank of the Bhagirathi River, while also understanding that this branch connects to the broader Ganga Hooghly system.

Final Answer:
Bhagirathi River