I went to West Bengal last year and traveled through Calcutta and also the lush green interiors. There were green paddy fields that were heartbreakingly beautiful. It was a placid peaceful vista that I saw.

But these are on the surface Bengal has been a tumultuous place cursed with poverty, violence, and needless deaths for a long time now. It is difficult to imagine that this was, once, the richest province of the Mughal Empire. And that was when the Mughal Empire was among the richest empires in the world.

Once the British managed to take over the province and introduced laws, especially land laws to wring out as much as they could from the people the situation became bad. You can read about it in my earlier blog “The Ruin of Bengal”.

Today we look at the most horrendous famines that hit this area. The Bengal famines of 1770 and 1943.

Drawing parallels between the Bengal Famine of 1943 and the Bengal Famine of 1770 provides valuable insights into recurring patterns of vulnerability and systemic failures:

Colonial Exploitation:

Both famines occurred under British colonial rule and were exacerbated by exploitative economic policies. In 1770, the East India Company’s oppressive land revenue system, coupled with exorbitant taxation and monopolistic trade practices, contributed to widespread poverty and food insecurity. The British also created monopolies, formed cartels, banned other traders, and effectively destroyed local enterprises. 

Similarly, in 1943, British land laws and export-oriented agricultural policies intensified rural distress and aggravated the famine.

Government Response:

In both instances, the colonial administration’s response to the famine was widely criticized for its inadequacy and indifference. During the Bengal Famine of 1770, the East India Company’s failure to provide relief and its ruthless extraction of resources exacerbated the suffering of the population. Similarly, during the Bengal Famine of 1943, Churchill’s government’s prioritization of wartime interests over humanitarian concerns resulted in delayed and insufficient relief efforts, exacerbating the death toll.

Human Cost:

Both famines resulted in staggering death tolls and widespread suffering. The Bengal Famine of 1770 is estimated to have claimed the lives of around 10 million people, making it one of the deadliest famines in history. Similarly, the Bengal Famine of 1943 resulted in the deaths of an estimated 2-3 million people, primarily due to starvation and related diseases. Vulnerable populations, including the poor, elderly, and children, bore the brunt of both calamities.

Legacy and Lessons Learned:

The Bengal Famine of 1770 and the Bengal Famine of 1943 underscore the enduring legacy of colonial exploitation, administrative failures, and socioeconomic inequalities in shaping the vulnerability of Bengal’s population to food crises. These tragedies serve as poignant reminders of the human cost of political apathy and underscore the imperative of equitable governance, proactive intervention, and sustainable agricultural practices in preventing future famines.

The parallels between the Bengal Famine of 1770 and the Bengal Famine of 1943 highlight the recurrent themes of colonial exploitation, governmental neglect, and human suffering that characterize these historical tragedies. By examining these interconnected narratives, we gain a deeper understanding of the systemic factors that contribute to famine vulnerability and the urgent need for inclusive and compassionate governance in addressing food insecurity.

Let’s have a look at what happened during 1943. The world was at war, the Japanese had breached the doors of the British Empire.

Only India was between the Japanese and the fall of the Empire. India provided much of the finances for the British war effort, her children were the soldiers who stood before the Japanese preventing the British from being overrun.

The muscle of the Empire was the Indian soldier. There is even now a reluctance on the part of many on both Indian and British sides to acknowledge the debt owed to the Indian soldier for his role in World War 2. But that’s a story for another day. Let us talk about the famine of 1943.

The Bengal Famine of 1943 stands as one of the most devastating humanitarian crises in modern history, marked by widespread starvation and suffering.

Causes of the Famine:

The Bengal Famine was not a result of food scarcity, but rather a culmination of various factors all of which were man-made.

1. Decline in Rice Production: Between 1939 and 1942, Bengal witnessed a significant drop in rice production due to unfavorable weather conditions and the disruption of traditional agricultural practices caused by World War II.
2. Government Policies: The British colonial administration’s policies aggravated the situation. Export quotas were maintained, leading to the diversion of food grains from Bengal to other regions and countries under British control, despite the looming crisis.
3. War and Disruption: The outbreak of World War II disrupted normal trade routes, further exacerbating food shortages in Bengal. The Japanese invasion of Burma in 1942 severed crucial supply lines, cutting off rice imports to Bengal.

Human Cost:

The Bengal Famine claimed the lives of an estimated 2-3 million people, primarily due to starvation and related diseases. Vulnerable groups such as the poor, elderly, and children were disproportionately affected, with widespread reports of malnutrition and famine-related mortality.

Many of these deaths could have been avoided.

Government Response:

Criticism has been leveled at the British colonial administration for its inadequate response to the crisis. Despite early warnings from officials and relief agencies about the severity of the situation, the government’s relief efforts were slow and insufficient. Policies such as the Grain Procurement Scheme, which aimed to control rice prices, failed to address the underlying causes of the famine.

Geopolitical Context:

The Japanese invasion of Southeast Asia, including Burma, disrupted trade and exacerbated the food crisis in Bengal by cutting off crucial supply routes. The occupation of Burma by Japanese forces further limited the availability of rice imports to Bengal, aggravating an already dire situation.

Quit India Movement and Relief Efforts:

The Quit India Movement, launched in 1942 as a civil disobedience campaign against British rule, further complicated relief efforts in Bengal. The British administration’s crackdown on the movement disrupted relief supply movements and hindered the distribution of aid to famine-stricken areas.

Title: Unveiling the Bengal Famine of 1943: Unheeded Pleas, Political Apathy, and Policy Failures

Churchill’s Response:

One of the most contentious aspects of the Bengal Famine of 1943 was the response—or lack thereof—by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill to pleas for assistance. Churchill’s government was accused of callousness and indifference to the plight of millions facing starvation in Bengal. Reports suggest that Churchill was dismissive of pleas for help, even diverting food supplies from India to support the war effort elsewhere. His prioritization of strategic interests over humanitarian concerns has been a subject of enduring controversy and criticism.

Official Declaration of Famine:

While the Bengal Famine of 1943 is often referred to as a famine, it’s essential to note that the British colonial authorities did not officially declare it as such. Instead, they characterized it as a severe food shortage or “scarcity,” downplaying the gravity of the situation. This semantic distinction has been scrutinized, with critics arguing that the failure to acknowledge the famine hindered international aid efforts and exacerbated the suffering of the affected population.

Effect of British Land Laws:

British land laws and policies also played a significant role in exacerbating the Bengal Famine. The colonial administration’s land tenure system, characterized by exploitative landlordism and oppressive taxation, contributed to rural poverty and agrarian distress. Peasant farmers, burdened by heavy rents and indebtedness, were unable to cope with the economic shocks caused by the war and the failure of crops. Additionally, the British government’s reluctance to implement land reforms further entrenched social inequalities and exacerbated food insecurity in Bengal.

Legacy and Lessons Learned:

The Bengal Famine of 1943 serves as a somber reminder of the devastating consequences of political apathy, colonial exploitation, and policy failures. It underscores the importance of humanitarian intervention, empathetic leadership, and responsive governance in times of crisis. The enduring controversies surrounding Churchill’s response and the broader culpability of the British colonial administration continue to provoke debate and reflection on the lessons learned from this tragic chapter in history.

The Bengal Famine of 1943 was a man-made disaster fueled by political indifference, economic exploitation, and administrative negligence. It stands as a poignant reminder of the human cost of policy failures and underscores the imperative of prioritizing the welfare of vulnerable populations in times of crisis.

The Bengal Famine of 1943 was a tragic chapter in India’s history, marked by widespread suffering and loss of life. While the exact causes and culpability continue to be debated, it serves as a sobering reminder of the human cost of political failures and the imperative of effective governance in times of crisis.

Namaste until the next time.