The Black Hole of Calcutta: Myth, Reality, and Empire

In this episode, Lucas and Luna unpack the story of the Black Hole of Calcutta — the 1756 incident where British prisoners were allegedly locked overnight in a tiny cell at Fort William, with most suffocating to death. But how much of that narrative is historical fact versus colonial propaganda? They explore the contested accounts: the diary of John Zephaniah Holwell, the only European survivor who wrote the famous version; contemporary Indian sources like the Siyar-ul-Mutakherin; the political context of Siraj-ud-Daulah's attack on Calcutta; and how the Black Hole became a rallying cry for British expansion in Bengal. The episode also touches on archaeological evidence from the site, discrepancies in the number of victims, and the role of the story in justifying the East India Company's takeover after Plassey. A nuanced look at a legend that shaped empire. #BlackHoleOfCalcutta #JohnZephaniahHolwell #SirajUdDaulah #FortWilliam #EastIndiaCompany #1756 #Calcutta #Bengal #BritishEmpire #ColonialPropaganda #HolwellMonument #SiyarUlMutakherin #BattleOfPlassey #SouthAsianHistory #ImperialMyths #18thCentury #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo