The mid-eighteenth century saw a surge in famines in colonial India due to factors like exploitative British colonial policies leading to land revenue extraction, conversion of agricultural land for cash crops, disruption of traditional agricultural practices, and the imposition of high taxes, causing agrarian distress and vulnerability to food shortages.
UPSC Mains General Studies Paper – 1 Mains 2022
UPSC Mains Civil Services IAS Exam Question Paper – 2022
Approach
- Start with emphasising the key word (famine) .
- Discuss the reasons for the sudden increase in famines in colonial India.
Answer
Introduction
The mid-eighteenth century marked a tragic turning point in the history of colonial India, as the region experienced a distressing surge in the occurrence of famines. These devastating famines, characterised by widespread starvation, loss of lives, and socio-economic upheaval, bore testimony to a complex interplay of socio-economic, political, environmental, and colonial factors. The 1769-70 famine in Bengal, was caused by a combination of factors, including erratic rainfall and a smallpox epidemic whereas the 1783-84 famine in Bengal was caused by crop failure over a wide area, which resulted in a significant shortage of food.
Body
- Reasons: There were several reasons why famines became more frequent in colonial India in the mid-18th century.
- Rural obligation: Debt has always been a significant issue in India’s rural economy, particularly during the British colonial period. The British Government imposed exorbitant rents and illegitimate taxes on the peasants, which made it difficult for them to make ends meet. As a result, many farmers had to borrow money from moneylenders to meet their basic needs, such as food, clothing, and shelter.
- Drought: The excessive rainfall in 1770 in Bengal, which is now present-day India and Bangladesh, did not alleviate the sufferings of the people who had experienced a drought the year before. Instead, it caused the overflowing of rivers and damaged standing crops, leading to a further decrease in food production and availability’s situation leads to starvation, malnutrition, and epidemics, mainly among agricultural laborer groups who are already vulnerable to food shortages and malnutrition due to their low-income levels.
- Policy of British: The famines during the colonial era were a tragic consequence of British colonial policies and economic exploitation in India. The mass export of agricultural produce to England by the British led to a shortage of food supply in India, which ultimately culminated in severe famines. The policy of exploitation was further reinforced by the introduction of the Permanent Settlement by Cornwallis in 1793.
- Economic factors: The colonial government’s revenue extraction policies, including the Permanent Settlement in Bengal, resulted in a decline in agricultural productivity and increased rural poverty. The imposition of heavy taxes and rents on peasants by the colonial government made it difficult for them to invest in agriculture, leading to a decline in agricultural productivity and increased rural poverty.
- Administrative failure: The colonial government’s inadequate response to famines contributed to the severity and spread of famines in colonial India. The British colonial government was often reluctant to import food or provide relief during famines, as they were more interested in maintaining their profits and revenue streams.
- Market forces: The growth of cash crops for export and the integration of Indian agriculture into the global market led to a rise in food prices and reduced access to food for the poor. the cultivation of cash crops like indigo, tea, and cotton for export, led to conversion of agricultural land away from food crops. This conversion led to a decline in the production of food crops, which, in turn, led to a rise in food prices.
Conclusion
Famines during the British period like the Bengal Famine of 1770, the Great Famine of 1876-78, and the Deccan Famine of 1900-1902, resulted in widespread suffering, loss of lives, and socio-economic upheaval.
In essence, the sudden increase in famines in colonial India was a result of a complex interplay of economic exploitation, environmental degradation, socio-political factors, and inadequate governance by the British colonial authorities.
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