Deana Heath

Deana Heath, an academic specializing in Indian and colonial history, discusses her book on the centrality of torture to British colonial rule in India. She reveals how Indian police, often acting on behalf of British authorities, engaged in systematic violence to uphold state power. The conversation explores the unique structure of colonial governance, contrasting it with Mughal rule, and delves into the moral complexities of policing, the horrific biopolitical policies during famines, and the tangled legacy of these practices that persist in modern India.

Deana Heath, a Professor of Indian and Colonial History at the University of Liverpool, delves into the dark realities of colonial rule in India. She discusses how torture was not only prevalent but essential for maintaining British authority, often facilitated by Indian police. Heath highlights how a regime of exception enabled widespread violence and contrasts British governance with earlier Mughal practices. The conversation explores the long-lasting implications of this colonial policing on Indian society, revealing how these historical dynamics still resonate today.