The History Hour

India's nine day tea strike and the birth of the Excel spreadsheet


Listen Later

Max Pearson presents a collection of the week’s Witness History episodes.

Tea expert Sabita Banerji talks about the history of tea in India. We look back at how women teapickers in 2015 fought for justice - and improved the lives of thousands of tea plantation workers.

We hear the story of a famous photo of American president John F Kennedy working at his desk in the White House - with his cheeky young son underneath.

Also, from 1985 one of the most notorious killings from the apartheid era in South Africa of the men who became known as the Cradock four - this includes graphic descriptions of violence.

It’s 30 years since American football star OJ Simpson was acquitted of murdering his ex-wife and her friend. We hear from one of his former friends who testified against him in the criminal trial including his desciptions of the injuries suffered by the victims.

And finally, it’s 40 years this week since the release of Microsoft Excel, the spreadsheet software that's now used all over the world. We hear from one of the creators.

Contributors:

Rajeshwary - tea plantation worker.
Sabita Banerji - founder of Thirst tea charity.
Lukhanyo Calata - son of Fort Calata, one of the Cradock Four.
Ron Shipp - who testified against OJ Simpson.
Mike Koss – one of the creators of Microsoft Excel.
Plus, archive recordings of American photographer Stanley Tretick from the John F Kennedy Library and Museum.

(Photo: Female tea pickers on strike in Munnar. Credit: Countercurrents.org)

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

The History HourBy BBC World Service

  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3

4.3

556 ratings


More shows like The History Hour

View all
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,613 Listeners

From Our Own Correspondent by BBC Radio 4

From Our Own Correspondent

377 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,049 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,478 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,798 Listeners

History Extra podcast by Immediate Media

History Extra podcast

3,207 Listeners

Witness History by BBC World Service

Witness History

958 Listeners

In Our Time: History by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time: History

1,881 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,754 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,038 Listeners

The Infinite Monkey Cage by BBC Radio 4

The Infinite Monkey Cage

2,095 Listeners

Great Lives by BBC Radio 4

Great Lives

484 Listeners

The Interview by BBC World Service

The Interview

357 Listeners

Lives Less Ordinary by BBC World Service

Lives Less Ordinary

593 Listeners

The Forum by BBC World Service

The Forum

267 Listeners

Dan Snow's History Hit by History Hit

Dan Snow's History Hit

4,805 Listeners

Discovery by BBC World Service

Discovery

977 Listeners

BBC Inside Science by BBC Radio 4

BBC Inside Science

414 Listeners

The Inquiry by BBC World Service

The Inquiry

746 Listeners

Science In Action by BBC World Service

Science In Action

337 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,151 Listeners

The Bomb by BBC World Service

The Bomb

1,007 Listeners