ESHS/HSS Annual Meeting

Epidemics in the Margins: A History of Cholera in Chotanagpur and Santal Parganas of Colonial India and the Construction of the Cholera ‘Disease-scapes’ (1865-1900)

• In Event: Practising Medicine in Colonial India

English Abstract

The nineteenth century is largely considered as the ‘Century of Cholera’ by many scholars. Cholera appeared in India and subsequently ravaged the world, including the West. These outbreaks ensued century-long attempts to understand the causes and routes of Cholera, resulting in the creation of imaginary routes of diffusion. Several historical works have studied various aspects of Cholera in India, including the diffusion routes. Hardly have these studies extended beyond the major provinces, such as Bengal and Bombay, nor have they attempted to understand the impact of Cholera and its diffusion in the margins or lesser-known areas. This paper aspires to go beyond such conventional studies and focus on Chotanagpur and Santal Parganas – two fringe/marginal regions of the prominent Bengal Presidency. It will not only throw light on these previously ignored areas but also seek to understand how Cholera affected such marginal areas compared to the major provinces. A significant portion of this paper will focus on the construction of the Cholera ‘Disease-scapes,’ based on the ideas of ‘Imaginary Geography’ (as theorized by Edward Said). These imaginary Disease-scapes primarily consisted of the routes of Cholera diffusion from India to the West and played a crucial role in associated global knowledge construction. The paper will discuss how such imaginary understandings shaped the regional and global perceptions of epidemics, situating even marginal areas, like Chotanagpur and Santal Parganas, within the global Cholera ‘Disease-scapes’. These largely neglected regions assumed greater significance in the colonial and global/transnational understanding of health and diseases due to their capacity to spread Cholera to other parts of the world. The paper will argue that such chances of cholera diffusion paved the way for medical interventions and various anti-epidemic initiatives, often tailored to regional specificities.

Authors

• Indranil Pramanik, Indian Institute of Technology Madras

• John Lourdusamy, Indian Institute of Technology