EPISODE · Jul 11, 2026 · 7 MIN
The Black Hole of Calcutta: Myth, Memory, and Empire
from The Hidden History of Bengal: Kingdoms, Empires, and Revolution — Fexingo History · host Fexingo
The Black Hole of Calcutta is one of the most infamous episodes in British imperial lore—but how much of it actually happened? In this episode, Lucas and Luna unravel the story of the 1756 incident that saw 146 British prisoners allegedly crammed into a tiny dungeon in Fort William, with only 23 surviving the night. They examine the sole account from John Zephaniah Holwell, the controversial EIC surgeon who claimed to be the hero of the hour, and weigh it against skeptical voices from both British and Indian historians. Could the numbers have been exaggerated? Was the room actually larger than described? And why did this story become such a powerful propaganda tool for the East India Company? Along the way, they explore the lead-up to the incident—Siraj-ud-Daulah's attack on Calcutta, the flight of the British, and the shifting power dynamics in Bengal—and its aftermath, including the retaliatory Battle of Plassey. A nuanced look at how a single contested narrative shaped colonial rule and collective memory. #BlackHoleOfCalcutta #SirajUdDaulah #JohnZephaniahHolwell #FortWilliam #EastIndiaCompany #BattleOfPlassey #BengalHistory #BritishEmpire #ColonialPropaganda #1756 #Calcutta #MythHistory #18thCentury #India #RobertClive #ImperialHistory #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
What this episode covers
The Black Hole of Calcutta is one of the most infamous episodes in British imperial lore—but how much of it actually happened? In this episode, Lucas and Luna unravel the story of the 1756 incident that saw 146 British prisoners allegedly crammed into a tiny dungeon in Fort William, with only 23 surviving the night. They examine the sole account from John Zephaniah Holwell, the controversial EIC surgeon who claimed to be the hero of the hour, and weigh it against skeptical voices from both British and Indian historians. Could the numbers have been exaggerated? Was the room actually larger than described? And why did this story become such a powerful propaganda tool for the East India Company? Along the way, they explore the lead-up to the incident—Siraj-ud-Daulah's attack on Calcutta, the flight of the British, and the shifting power dynamics in Bengal—and its aftermath, including the retaliatory Battle of Plassey. A nuanced look at how a single contested narrative shaped colonial rule and collective memory. #BlackHoleOfCalcutta #SirajUdDaulah #JohnZephaniahHolwell #FortWilliam #EastIndiaCompany #BattleOfPlassey #BengalHistory #BritishEmpire #ColonialPropaganda #1756 #Calcutta #MythHistory #18thCentury #India #RobertClive #ImperialHistory #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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The Black Hole of Calcutta: Myth, Memory, and Empire
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