Latest / The Hidden History of Bengal: Kingdoms, Empires, and Revolution — Fexingo History
The Great Hedge: Bengal's Salt Tax and the Inland Customs Line
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore one of the most bizarre and oppressive structures ever built in colonial India: the Inland Customs Line, known as the Great Hedge. Stretching over 2,500 miles from the Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal, this barrier of thorny bushes and armed guards was erected by the British East India Company in the 19th century to enforce the salt tax. Learn about the ingenious smuggling networks that evaded it, the villages destroyed by its enforcement, and the staggering human cost of a tax that made salt—a basic necessity—unaffordable for millions. The episode also…
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