In the summer of 1756, tensions escalated between the British East India Company and Siraj ud-Daulah, the Nawab of Bengal. The British had fortified Fort William in Calcutta, which posed a threat to the Nawab's authority over the region. On June 20, 1756, Siraj ud-Daulah launched an attack, forcing the British to surrender the fort. After the capture, the Nawab ordered the imprisonment of the British garrison and civilians in what would later be known as the Black Hole of Calcutta. The conditions inside this small dungeon were horrific, with estimates suggesting that up to 146 individuals were crammed into a space measuring only 14 feet by 18 feet. The extreme heat, lack of air, and sheer overcrowding led to a disastrous outcome, with many succumbing to suffocation and heat exhaustion overnight. Official accounts reported that only 23 of the original captives survived the ordeal.

The event garnered significant attention and condemnation, particularly in Britain, where it was portrayed as a barbaric act against British citizens. The Black Hole incident played a pivotal role in shaping British public opinion against the Nawab, fueling a sense of outrage that would lead to military retaliation. Subsequently, the British East India Company launched a campaign to regain control over Bengal. The event is often seen as a turning point in the British colonial enterprise in India, marking the beginning of a more aggressive military strategy in the region. Siraj ud-Daulah's actions would ultimately lead to his downfall and the establishment of British dominance in Bengal.

In popular culture and historical recounting, the Black Hole of Calcutta has become symbolic of British imperial suffering and has been cited as an example of the extremes of colonial conflict. It encapsulated the growing animosity between the British and Indian rulers, deepening the narrative of conflict that characterized this period of history.