1.6 billion died of starvation under British rule. Not one famine was recorded after 1947.

Episode 4 of this Bengal history series exposes the deliberate economic architecture behind the Indigo Rebellion. Surya Sarathi Roy dismantles the myth that the revolt was purely non-violent, revealing the crucial role of the Bagdhi class — stilt-running dacoits who organised resistance across Nadia, Dinajpur, and Midnapore. The episode traces the British economic timeline from Plassey (1757) through the Great Famine of 1770–71 to the extraction that Dr. Utsa Patnaik estimated at $45 trillion between 1765 and 1938. The indigo plantation system is shown as inseparable from famine engineering — a calculated destruction of Bengal’s agrarian economy.

About the Speaker:
Surya Sarathi Roy is a technologist, cultural heritage conservationist, researcher, and author with expertise in Indic history. His research spans the history and culture of Braj Mandal, Kurukshetra, Kalinga, Shri Jagannath culture, Mewar, and Maratha history. Coming from a family of revolutionaries, he is also a passionate student of archaeology, focusing on the enlistment of heritage sites and the conservation of ancient manuscripts. A Life Member and Researcher at INTACH New Delhi HQ, Surya Ji is also an Associate Member of ICOMOS, a UNESCO body dedicated to the conservation of archaeological sites worldwide. Currently, he serves as the Director for North India Operations at IHAR (Indian History Awareness & Research), a Houston-based NGO committed to research, preservation, and the practice of India’s cultural heritage and Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS). Additionally, he was appointed by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee as a Desk Reviewer for the UNESCO World Heritage Sites Panel for 2023 and 2024.

About the Anchor:
Debasis Sarkar is an Anchor at Sangam Talks. He is an independent researcher in Indology and a seeker in related fields of knowledge.