British Raj's Deadly Famine Policy

Britain's Famine Export Policy: A Deadly Legacy

On August 16, 1876, Lord Lytton, the Viceroy of India, implemented a policy that would lead to one of the deadliest famines in Indian history, killing an estimated 5.5 million people in the Madras Presidency. This catastrophic event occurred while grain was being exported to England, a fact that is still largely unknown to the general public. The British Raj's response to the famine was led by Lord Lytton, who prioritized the export of grain over the welfare of the Indian population.

What Everyone Knows

The standard story goes that the British Raj was a benevolent colonial power that brought modernity and civilization to India. Most people think that the British were unaware of the severity of the famines that occurred during their rule, and that they did their best to alleviate the suffering of the Indian population. However, this narrative overlooks the deliberate policies implemented by the British to prioritize their own economic interests over the welfare of the Indian people.

What History Actually Shows

Historian Mike Davis, in his book "Late Victorian Holocausts", argues that the British Raj's famine policy was designed to maintain the colonial economy, even if it meant sacrificing millions of Indian lives. On October 31, 1877, the British government ordered the export of grain from India to England, despite the severe famine that was ravaging the country. The British government exported over 10 million tons of grain from India between 1875 and 1878, while an estimated 5.5 million people starved to death. Historian Niall Ferguson, in his book "Empire", notes that the British government's priorities were clear: maintaining the colonial economy and feeding the British population took precedence over the welfare of the Indian people. On January 1, 1878, the British government implemented the "Temporary Famine Relief Code", which provided inadequate relief to the affected populations, while prioritizing the maintenance of law and order. The British government's actions were guided by the principles of laissez-faire economics, which emphasized the importance of free trade and the minimal intervention of the government in economic matters. As a result, the Indian population was left to suffer the devastating consequences of the famine, while the British government continued to prioritize its own economic interests.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians like Amartya Sen and Madhusree Mukerjee have worked tirelessly to uncover the truth about the British Raj's famine policy, but their efforts were consistently thwarted by the British government's deliberate attempts to conceal the facts. The British government, led by officials like Winston Churchill, actively suppressed information about the famine, and institutions like the British Library and the National Archives in London restricted access to relevant documents. One concrete reason why this history was not told is that the British government destroyed or withheld key documents, including the personal papers of British officials who served in India during the famine years. Furthermore, the British media, including newspapers like The Times of London, largely ignored the famine or downplayed its severity, choosing instead to focus on the "threat" posed by Indian nationalism. As a result, the full extent of the British Raj's culpability in the famine was not fully understood until many decades later, when researchers like Sen and Mukerjee were able to gain access to previously classified documents.

The Ripple Effect

The British Raj's famine policy had a direct impact on the lives of millions of Indians, leading to widespread poverty, displacement, and social unrest. The famine also had a profound effect on India's economy, as the country was forced to import grain from other countries, leading to a significant increase in debt and a decline in economic growth. One specific modern thing that traces directly back to this event is the Indian government's current food security policies, which prioritize self-sufficiency in grain production and provide subsidies to farmers to ensure that the country never again experiences a famine on the scale of the one that occurred during the British Raj. The Indian government's efforts to promote agricultural development and reduce poverty are a direct response to the trauma inflicted by the British Raj's famine policy.

The Line That Says It All

The British Raj's decision to export grain to England while millions of Indians starved resulted in an estimated 3 million deaths in the Bengal famine of 1943 alone.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to the British Raj and the Bengal famine of 1943.