Dispatches from Kolkata Independence Extras
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Aug 20, 2025 India's recent Independence Day celebration prompts a deep dive into untold stories from the past. The podcast reveals personal memories from those who lived through the independence movement, shedding light on often overlooked voices. It also honors the unsung heroes, highlighting the vital contributions of diverse communities, including Dalits, Adivasis, and women. One remarkable story features an ordinary woman’s heroic role in the Indian National Army, reminding us of the importance of recognizing all contributions to history.
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History Centers On Big Names
- History teaching focuses on major leaders and official events, sidelining ordinary people's roles in independence.
- This omission makes everyday lived experiences of 1947 feel invisible and unasked in families and schools.
Family Silence About 1947
- Sandip Roy recounts asking his mother and relatives what they did on August 15, 1947 and getting little or no memory.
- He attributes their silence to the violent communal unrest in Kolkata that likely kept families indoors and fearful.
Partition Violence And Exclusion
- Gunita Singh Balla relayed her grandmother's terrifying 1947 partition memories of blood in flooded streets.
- Fla Silliman described intervening to save a pregnant woman and feeling excluded from national identity despite being Indian.
