1866 FAMINE AND ITS IMPACT ON PEOPLE & SOCIETY

SATYAM PRIYAM
20111444
ABSTRACT. . .

The 1866 Famine and its impact on people & society had taught us the value of food and the

management of food resources. It showed a glimpse of how autocracy can kill 5 million

people and how a complete policy failure looks like. Not to forget how everything was

related to Winston Churchill and world war II. The truth of exports food items from India to

so-called “Great Britain” during the world war for their greed. The people of India starved for

days. The people starved for so many days now that their body can't take it anymore all the

muscles of the body start to shrink and they could feel it inside in their body even in their

heart finally their body starts using the protein stored in the body then the body gives up and

struggle comes to a halt.

The Research paper will throw some light on how it started who all were responsible.

"I hate Indians. They are a beastly people with a beastly religion. The famine was their own
fault for breeding like rabbits." -Winston Churchill

Keywords: Famine, Bengal, Taxes, Peasants, Odisha, Colonial rulers, droughts

 FAMINE? A MISFORTUNE? OR IMPERIAL SCHEMA?

The event of disasters like drought, flood, epidemics and cyclone a reoccurring event
throughout the entire existence of Odisha. Their incessant appearance in the nineteenth century
was the main factor that broke the foundation of the individuals of Odisha. Individuals of
Odisha have been experiencing numerous normal disasters. The most well-known among them
everything was the Starvation of 1866 which is renowned throughout the entire existence of
Odisha as the Na-Anka starvation. It had caused extreme financial issues for individuals of
Odisha. The Starvation of 1866 in Odisha was one of the most noticeably awful starvations on
the planet. The carelessness of the British administrators in charge of the Odisha Division
coupled with natural calamity and economic disasters brought this catastrophe. Around 33%
of the complete populace of Odisha died by the shocking starvation. This serious starvation is
otherwise called the 'Na-Anka Starvation' since it happened in the 9th regnal year of Gajapati
Divyasinghadeva. The disaster was devastative to such an extent that its unfortunate memory
was in the hearts of individuals of Odisha for decades.

Starvation was a consequence of food shortage brought by large scale exports for use in war.
India sent out more than 70,000 tons of rice between January and July 1943, even as starvation
set in. This would have kept almost 400,000 individuals alive for an entire year. Churchill
turned down intense requests to send out food to India referring to a deficiency of boats - this
when shiploads of Australian wheat, for instance, would pass by India to be put away for future
utilization in Europe. As imports dropped, costs shot up and hoarders raked in huge profits. Mr
Churchill additionally pushed a singed earth strategy - which passed by the evil name of
Refusal Strategy - in beachfront Bengal were the colonizers dreaded the Japanese would land.
So specialists eliminated boats and the police obliterated and held onto rice stocks. During the
1873-'74 starvation, the Bengal lieutenant lead representative, Richard Sanctuary, saved
numerous lives by bringing in and dispersing food. Yet, the English government scrutinized
him and dropped his strategies during the dry season of 1943, prompting countless fatalities.
 EVERY DARK CLOUD HAS A SILVER LINING
The outcomes of the Na-Anka starvation were expansive as follows:
1. It uncovered the truth behind the poor administration.

2. The mortality was around 1,000,000, almost 33% of the number of inhabitants per the
calculation of the government.
3. Tumult and disarray everywhere in Odisha and pandemics followed the starvation and made
the existence of individuals more hopeless.
The starvation of 1866 was a surprisingly beneficial development as it guided another period
in strong administration in Odisha. The carelessness of the attitude of the government was
regrated Then again, the government received thoughtful mentality and arrangements towards
individuals of Odisha. Basing on the suggestion of the Starvation Commission of Odisha, the
Public authority of India outlined starvation counterattack strategies for the whole country.
The starvation of 1866 was a defining moment throughout the entire existence of current
Odisha. In this starvation, the individuals of Odisha had endured a great deal. It had removed
33% of its populace. Notwithstanding, the fallout of starvation was useful for the state. The
English Government brought numerous authoritative and different offices to serve individuals.
The Starvation of 1866, constrained them to receive generous and thoughtful approaches
towards individuals of Odisha.
BIBLIOGRAPHY…

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asia-india-36339524

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dictators, claims Indian politician Winston Churchill has as much blood on his hands as

the worst genocidal dictators, claims Indian politician | The Independent | The Independent

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https://www.iias.asia/sites/default/files/nwl_article/2019-05/IIAS_NL52_14.pdf