EPISODE · Jun 6, 2026 · 5 MIN
The Black Hole of Calcutta: Myth, Massacre, and Memory
from The Hidden History of Bengal: Kingdoms, Empires, and Revolution — Fexingo History · host Fexingo
In this episode of The Hidden History of Bengal, Lucas and Luna unravel the story of the Black Hole of Calcutta, one of the most controversial events in British colonial history. They explore what really happened on the night of June 20, 1756, when Siraj-ud-Daulah's forces captured Fort William and allegedly confined 146 British prisoners in a tiny guardroom, from which only 23 emerged alive. Lucas digs into the primary sources: John Zephaniah Holwell's sensational account, the only surviving eyewitness report, and contrasts it with Indian records and later historical analysis that question the scale of the tragedy. The hosts discuss how the Black Hole was used as propaganda to justify Clive's conquest of Bengal, the debate over the exact death toll, and how memory of the event has been shaped by both British imperial narratives and Indian nationalist reactions. They also touch on the site today—the Holwell Monument, its destruction, and modern commemorations. This episode cuts through myth to examine a pivotal moment that changed Bengal forever. #BlackHoleOfCalcutta #SirajUdDaulah #FortWilliam #JohnZephaniahHolwell #BattleOfPlassey #BritishRaj #Propaganda #Calcutta #Bengal #1756 #MythAndHistory #ColonialHistory #HolwellMonument #EastIndiaCompany #IndianHistory #FexingoHistory #History #SouthAsia Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
What this episode covers
In this episode of The Hidden History of Bengal, Lucas and Luna unravel the story of the Black Hole of Calcutta, one of the most controversial events in British colonial history. They explore what really happened on the night of June 20, 1756, when Siraj-ud-Daulah's forces captured Fort William and allegedly confined 146 British prisoners in a tiny guardroom, from which only 23 emerged alive. Lucas digs into the primary sources: John Zephaniah Holwell's sensational account, the only surviving eyewitness report, and contrasts it with Indian records and later historical analysis that question the scale of the tragedy. The hosts discuss how the Black Hole was used as propaganda to justify Clive's conquest of Bengal, the debate over the exact death toll, and how memory of the event has been shaped by both British imperial narratives and Indian nationalist reactions. They also touch on the site today—the Holwell Monument, its destruction, and modern commemorations. This episode cuts through myth to examine a pivotal moment that changed Bengal forever. #BlackHoleOfCalcutta #SirajUdDaulah #FortWilliam #JohnZephaniahHolwell #BattleOfPlassey #BritishRaj #Propaganda #Calcutta #Bengal #1756 #MythAndHistory #ColonialHistory #HolwellMonument #EastIndiaCompany #IndianHistory #FexingoHistory #History #SouthAsia Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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The Black Hole of Calcutta: Myth, Massacre, and Memory
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