Intelligence Squared
Kavita Puri and Sathnam Sanghera on War, Empire and the Untold Story of the Bengal Famine (Part Two)
Mar 23, 2025
Kavita Puri, an award-winning journalist noted for her work on Indian history, joins author Sathnam Sanghera to delve into the tragic narrative of the Bengal Famine. They discuss its obscurity in British and Indian history despite the millions who suffered. Puri highlights collective amnesia around this event and its ties to colonial legacies, prompting reflections on ancestral connections. The conversation emphasizes the crucial need to preserve survivors' stories and the famine's impact on nationalism and memory, linking past traumas to contemporary issues.
45:01
Episode guests
AI Summary
AI Chapters
Episode notes
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- The Bengal famine's obscurity in history underscores the need for memorialization to prevent the repetition of past atrocities.
- Testimonies from survivors reveal a dual narrative of horror and kindness, highlighting the complex emotional experiences during the famine.
Deep dives
The Silence of the Bengal Famine
The Bengal famine remains a largely forgotten chapter in Indian history, with both British and Indian perspectives contributing to this amnesia. Reasons for this collective memory loss include the traumatic events of the 1940s, such as partition and ethnic violence, which overshadowed the famine itself. While some Indians experienced severe suffering, many elite citizens did not face hunger, leading to feelings of guilt and complicity among those who thrived during the crisis. The silence surrounding the famine is complex, as it intertwines with the broader narrative of independence and the desire to move forward without the burden of painful reminders.
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
