The Black Hole of Calcutta: Myth, Massacre, and Memory

The Hidden History of Bengal: Kingdoms, Empires, and Revolution — Fexingo History · Jun 28, 2026 · 10m · transcript

In 1756, the Nawab of Bengal Siraj-ud-Daulah captured Calcutta from the British East India Company. That night, 146 prisoners were locked in a small room — the 'Black Hole of Calcutta.' Only 23 survived. But how much of this story is true? In this episode, Lucas and Luna dig into the controversy around John Zephaniah Holwell's account, the forensic evidence, and how the Black Hole became a rallying cry for British imperialism. They explore the political context of Siraj's siege, the battle of the batteries at Fort William, and the later historiography that debunked the…