This Day in History- The Great Calcutta Massacre

I had meant to post this yesterday, so it's actually "Yesterday in History", and for those of you reading from farther east, perhaps even later still.

August 16th, 1946. In the aftermath of WWII Britain is in the process of handing over control of India to the native population. There are two major factions within the Indian government, however, The Muslim League and the Indian National Congress (which was mostly Hindu). The short version is that the Muslim League led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah wanted to form an independent nation, where the population was already predominantly muslim, called Pakistan, and let the other Indian principalities declare for India, Pakistan, or their own independent nations. The Indian National Congress rejected this plan, preferring instead to keep India geographially and politically (i.e. predominatly Hindu) as it was.

The Muslim League reacted to the outright rejection by declaring Direct Action Day, and calling for muslim-operated shops to be closed, people to march in protest, and possibly other things that would be explained to their adherents at the rallies. The exact numbers that turned out are difficult to calculate now because estimates varied so widely depending on the person reporting, but it was somewhere between 30,000 and 500,000; a huge difference.

Tensions had been building for years between the two entities in a city that was at the time 64% Hindu and 33% Muslim. It didn't take long for violence to errupt, and both sides seem to have come prepared and heavily armed. Within 72 hours about 4,000 people are estimated to have died as gangs of men from both sides caught and killed individuals from the other, ransacked shops and homes, creating terror and devestation.

The remaining British Raj seemed determined to stay well out of it, and declared a public holiday which they explained was a way to keep people in their homes where they might have a greater chance at safety, rather that sending them to work where they might be in danger. The violence spread in subsequent days to neighboring towns and provinces, paving the way for the Partition of India to come.

Comments

Italian Renaissance Hairstyles

In keeping with my last post on Italian Renaissance costume I thought we would take a look at something we didn't touch much on; hairstyles. They were extremely varying; up and down, braided, netted, entwined with silks and ribbons, even pearls, and, of course, dyed, bleached, and curled. The only thing in somewhat short supply seems to be hats, and really who would want to cover up what you had spent so much time constructing? "Do you have any idea how long it took me to get the curls placed?!" 1544 Portrait of Laura da Pola by Lotto Occasionally a small cap, or scuffia, was worn either with side curls, or with most of the hair stuffed up underneathe:- 1490 portrait by Ghirlandaio 1502 Betrothal 1510 Portrait by Araldi Another notable hair decoration was the reta, or hairnet. Some of these were beaded, some woven in decorative patterns, and some left very simple. 1505-1508 Siena 1545 Lavinia Under and around these ornamentations, o

The De Berry Project- The Fabric and shoes

As I mentioned last time I am working on a version of the outfit to the left for an event coming up soon in July. I wanted something with a hat to shade my face, and not too hot since we are going to be outside in the middle of a Virginian summer. The fabric gods were not kind, when I went to my local fabric stores. There was really nothing in the right weight, color, pattern, fiber, or amount; especially the amount since I need about 8 yards for the undergown and 10 yards for the overdress. Part of the problem is that there are no waist seams, so each piece has to be cut from a long continuous length of material. Also, those sleeves are about four yards by themselves. I resigned myself to ordering online, which I hate doing because it's so hard to be sure of the color etc without seeing it in person, and by the time the fabric arrives often there just isn't time to send it back and get something else. I went first to an oldie, but a goodie; Thai silks. I knew they would

How Our Ancestors Slept

As someone who wakes up during the night feeling frustratingly refreshed...and then struggles to rise in the morning, I found this article to be a kind of vindication. Apparently the way we sleep has changed. For more information you can visit the link here .

Amphorae

Search This Blog