Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
Pandemics have been an ancient scourge of mankind. Across time and space, these scourges have been imagined, interpreted and imagined differently, refracted by the prism of culture and religion. This talk explores some representations of pandemics as goddesses in the Indic tradition. With a focus on Bengal, this talk will mainly explore three goddesses / pandemic imaginaries: Worship of Sitala (the smallpox deity), Olabibi (the Muslim matron of cholera, worshipped often by Hindus and Muslims in Bengal alike) and Kali(whose worship ebbs and flows through different epidemic periods). As a conclusion, it will also explore some of the ways in which COVID-19 was also refracted through the goddess imaginaries. In doing so, it will make a case for the endurance, relevance and adaptability of Indic traditions, especially in times of pandemic panics and epidemic crisis.
Utsa Bose is a DPhil candidate in History at Somerville College. His DPhil project focuses on a sociocultural history of epidemics, pandemics and endemics in colonial South Asia, particularly the plague pandemic in Calcutta. Among his areas of research are the histories of health, medicine, science and religion.
Pandemics have been an ancient scourge of mankind. Across time and space, these scourges have been imagined, interpreted and imagined differently, refracted by the prism of culture and religion. This talk explores some representations of pandemics as goddesses in the Indic tradition. With a focus on Bengal, this talk will mainly explore three goddesses / pandemic imaginaries: Worship of Sitala (the smallpox deity), Olabibi (the Muslim matron of cholera, worshipped often by Hindus and Muslims in Bengal alike) and Kali(whose worship ebbs and flows through different epidemic periods). As a conclusion, it will also explore some of the ways in which COVID-19 was also refracted through the goddess imaginaries. In doing so, it will make a case for the endurance, relevance and adaptability of Indic traditions, especially in times of pandemic panics and epidemic crisis.
Utsa Bose is a DPhil candidate in History at Somerville College. His DPhil project focuses on a sociocultural history of epidemics, pandemics and endemics in colonial South Asia, particularly the plague pandemic in Calcutta. Among his areas of research are the histories of health, medicine, science and religion.
