The Great Hedge of Bengal: A Wall of Thorns That Split a Province

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the bizarre and little-known story of the Great Hedge of Bengal — a 2,500-mile living wall of thorny plants and trees that the British colonial government built in the 19th century to enforce a salt tax. Running from the Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal, the hedge was patrolled by a network of customs officers and informants, and it physically divided the province, shaping local economies and identities. The conversation covers the origins of the Inland Customs Line, the brutal living conditions of the customs officers, the creative ways people smuggled salt, and the eventual dismantling of the hedge in 1879. Along the way, Lucas and Luna reflect on how colonial infrastructure, even something as strange as a hedge, could reshape a region and sow the seeds of later resistance. They also touch on the broader implications for understanding Bengal's complex history under British rule.

#GreatHedge #BengalHistory #ColonialIndia #SaltTax #InlandCustomsLine #BritishRaj #19thCenturyHistory #EconomicHistory #Bengal #India #PodcastHistory #FexingoHistory #SouthAsia #Imperialism #Resistance #History #Podcast #IndiaHistory

Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo