By

Indranil Halder

Empty Jar & The Jam Boy is a sweeping work of historical fiction that exposes the magnificent rise and tragic hollowings of colonial Bengal.

The “Empty Jar” serves as a powerful metaphor for the behemoth province of Bengal. Once a global titan of wealth, millennia of civilization, and thriving international trade, Bengal attracted merchants from every corner of the earth with its fertile soil, master craftsmen, and legendary textiles. Yet, successive invasions, exploitative policies, devastating famines, and bitter partitions ultimately left this economic powerhouse empty. Under British rule, surpluses from Bengali taxes were systematically used to purchase local goods, which were then shipped and sold abroad—funnelling trillions of British Pound  into London’s private and corporate empires. At a time when 60% of India was governed by traders-turned-rulers, Bengal bankrolled for the expansion of the British East India Company and financed developments across Myanmar, Singapore, and Hong Kong and the United Kingdom with its nineteen colonies such as Fiji and South Africa by providing soldiers, saltpetre, shipbuilders, and strategic commercial Bengali advisors.

Meanwhile, “The Jam Boy” unearths a dark, haunting piece of folklore from colonial Calcutta—a tragic history that is still recalled with quiet sadness at elite Bengali champagne, caviar, and mango parties across the globe today.

The story is set, against the backdrop of Bengal trade and commerce of the 19th century, it begins with the arrival of the East India Company’s Lord Canning and his wife in one of the  richest province in the world- Bengal. The narrative masterfully unfolds through two parallel worlds: the ambitious development of Lord Canning’s pet project with support from Bengal business community, Port Canning on the Matla River, and the quiet artistic pursuits of his wife, who paints the lush flora and fauna of Bengal with the assistance of a local young man named Hori.

As the global stage fractures under the Panic of 1857—the world’s first interconnected financial crisis, London suffocates under the “Great Stink” of 1858 and  Bay of Bengal cyclone destroys Canning Port, Hori embarks on a poignant journey from a quiet Bengal village to the grand “City of Palaces” and the “Wall Street of the East”-Calcutta. The story highlights demolished colonial mansion “Rainey Castle”which once stood on Ballygunge Circular Road and Asia’s first hotel Spence’s Hotel in Calcutta and also  magnificent Felicity Room in West Bengal district of Murshidabad which once stood as venue to host upper-crust parties, high-stakes meetings, and monumental global business deals.

Calcutta’s grandeur inspired legendary artists of the era. Artists like Robert Burford famously immortalised the city, who advertised panorama of Calcutta with Paris, Quebec and Hobart in 1831. Celebrated artist William Wood created a series of twenty-eight panoramic lithographic views titled Views of Calcutta.  Meanwhile,  Prussian born artist  Jacob Janssen exhibited his view of Calcutta in 1841, earning a feature in Australia’s Sydney Gazette. There in the fabulous city of Calcutta , a series of cruel, systemic experiences ultimately forces  Hori to leave his homeland behind forever.

“Discover why Hori left Calcutta despite its global prosperity, prestige and power. Get your copy today!”

Book  Details:

• Author: Indranil Halder
• Editor: Saheli Mitra (Kolkata)
• Publisher: Virasat Art Publication (Kolkata)
• Launch Date: 8/8/2026
• Future Editions: Translations in Bengali, French, and Chinese, alongside an upcoming audiobook release, are in active preparation.

Where to Buy

• International Online Retailers: Available globally on Amazon and Blue Pencil
• Publisher Website: Order directly from Virasat Art Publication at www.vapublication.com
• India : Kolkata Bookstores: Stocked at premier literary landmarks including Dasgupta (Est. 1818), U.N. Dhur & Sons (Est. 1914), Chakrabarti & Chatterjee (Est. 1919), Oxford Book Store (Est. 1919), STORY Bookstore (Est. 2004) and The Book Nook (Est. 2011)
• India: West Bengal Book Festivals: Look for it at the Shobhabazar Rajbari Book Festival, the Berhampore Book Festival, and the historic International Kolkata Book Fair (the world’s largest non-trade book fair, Asia’s largest book fair, and India’s oldest winter literary tradition)
• Australia : Harry Hartog, Sydney
• USA: Barnes & Noble, New York