Hooghly: The Global History of a River

by Robert Ivermee

The Hooghly, a tributary of the Ganges flowing south to the Bay of Bengal, is now little known outside of India. Yet for centuries it was a river of truly global significance, attracting merchants, missionaries, mercenaries, statesmen, laborers and others from Europe, Asia and beyond. Hooghly seeks to restore the waterway to the heart of global history. Focusing in turn on the role of and competition between those who struggled to control the river--the Portuguese, the Mughals, the Dutch, the French and finally the British, who built their imperial capital, Calcutta, on its banks--the author considers how the Hooghly was integrated into global networks of encounter and exchange, and the dramatic consequences that ensued.

Traveling up and down the river, Robert Ivermee explores themes of enduring concern, among them the dynamics of modern capitalism and the power of large corporations; migration and human trafficking; the role of new technologies in revolutionizing social relations; and the human impact on the natural world. The Hooghly's global history, he concludes, may offer lessons for India as it emerges as a world superpower.

Genres: History, India, Travel, Asia

256 pages, ebook

Published December 15, 2020

Reviews

[Vikas Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant read about how a river played such an important role in shaping up the history of a country. Ever since the river Saraswati started silting and drying up, an insignificant river called Hooghly occupied centre stage as Portuguese, Dutch, French, Danish and English started trading using this river. The book is a deep dive into early days of 15th and 16th century as various trading companies fought against each other for economic and political supremacy. Thoroughly researched, it is a fascinating read about various battles and back stage plots that ultimately led to the English supremacy and the decline of various European settlements along the banks of Hooghly.

[Vivek Raj · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative but dry facts make it a dreary read.

[Anuradha Sarup · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative and easy to read. An excellent writing style, it was no problem picking up the story even after a gap of a couple of days at a time.
Now I'm curious to read about other rivers that are comparable...

[Arjun · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Hooghly: The Global History of a River" is an enlightening exploration of the Hooghly River's role in shaping history, trade, and culture across continents. Meticulously researched and eloquently written, the book offers a captivating journey through time, revealing the river's profound impact on societies and economies worldwide.

[Raghav Sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read while staying on the banks of river Hooghly

[Biswadip Chattopadhyay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a unique book that I stumbled upon in a bookstore. It was quite a long and slow read, with many interruption. But, it is qualitatively impressive. Robert Ivermee has astutely picked most interesting historical phases surrounding the most important river of South Bengal and how it relates to present day.

I was particularly interested in this book as a person who was involved with the river from his childhood. But, even if you are not a Bengali, you can find this book fascinating if you are a history buff. Hooghly river was once the most important river in the world with respect to geo-political, financial, and cultural aspect. So much of Indian history post 1400s are shaped by this river - which is - organized and written industriously by the author. Chapters are named as places of interests beside the banks of Hooghly and dedicated to specific eras of historical significance.

I do recommend it, highly.