Few in the UK are aware of one of the most egregious historical structures built in the name of colonial profit: the Great Hedge of India. Stretching nearly 2,000 miles across the Indian subcontinent, this sprawling barrier was part of Britain’s salt tax enforcement system during the 19th century. The tax itself caused widespread suffering, depriving millions of Indians of a resource essential to life, as salt prices were deliberately inflated. The construction and maintenance of the hedge enforced these punitive measures, with a devastating impact on Indian society, the economy and human health. The hedge stands as a symbol of a darker legacy of colonialism, where economic gain was prioritised over human life, stability and dignity.
The exact number of lives affected and lost as a result of the salt tax and the Great Hedge is unrecorded – a reflection of the erasure that surrounds this part of colonial history. The physical evidence of this hedge has largely been destroyed or lost, but the economic consequences and human toll of this policy – administered and enforced by the colonial administration – echo throughout history.
We call on the UK government, schools and educational bodies to ensure that the story of the Great Hedge of India is not forgotten. It is time we begin acknowledging such events openly and ensuring that they become part of our shared historical consciousness.
A more comprehensive education on Britain’s colonial history is essential to fostering understanding and accountability – for ourselves and for the generations to come.
Cliff Southcombe
Robin Hood’s Bay, North Yorkshire
Marianne Hood
Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire
• Have an opinion on anything you’ve read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
