The bengal famine of 1943

Made By- Kanupriya Garg

1. BENGAL FAMINE OF 1943 MADE BY: KANUPRIYA GARG

2. What was Bengal famine? The Bengal famine of 1943 was one of the most devastating famines The Bengal famine of 1943 was one of the most devastating famines in history that hit the Bengal province in British India at the time of the Second World War. It was a major famine that took away lives of 3/4th of the population (around 2.1–3 million people ).

3. CAUSES OF BENGAL FAMINE: it one was caused by a combination of natural factors, socio-politics, and callous leadership. 

4. NATURAL CAUSES: The main reason for the famine of 1943 in Bengal, was apparently shortage of rice (which was the staple food). Rapid increase in ratio of the population  to fixed land and agricultural production including years of decreasing rice production was posing inadequacy. The natural factors included a cyclone, which hit Bengal on January 9, 1943, flooding the rice fields with salt water and killing 14,500 people, as well as an outbreak of the fungus ( Helminthosporium oryzae) , which took a heavy toll on the remaining rice plants.

5. Political Causes 1942  faced a bad harvest in winter crop leading to shortages in supply. After the Japan occupied  Myanmar, the same year, rice imports from Burma were lost. This was followed by British “denial policies” for rice and boats which in turn poorly affected much of market supplies and transport systems of Bengal. Main supplies were distributed by the British government to the military, civil servants and other classes considered important. Moreover emergency inter-provincial trade barriers on rice and other food grains were implemented further aggravating the situation. Although restrictions were temporarily lifted for eastern states, however these were later resumed as price of rice started increasing in other states. One of the contributing factors of excessive mortality during the famine was development of railways in Bengal during late 19th century and early 20th century. Natural drainage of Bengal was disturbed due to construction of a network of railway embankments resulting in formation of poorly drained “compartments” in different areas of Bengal. This led to excessive silting, damaged crop production, increased chance of flooding and created stagnant water pockets that were apt for water-borne diseases like cholera and malaria.  Another cause was the consequences of the Second World War that saw war-time inflation triggered by military build-up and financing. Thousands of Bengalis lost their lands due to seizure. Such social, economic and political forces adversely affected income distribution structure of Bengal including its agricultural sector in sustaining its populace.

6. EFFECTS OF BENGAL FAMINE

7. Effects:  (Social, Economic & Political) The social structure of Bengal was severely disrupted by the famine.  The famine overpowered and impoverished large segments of economy of Bengal severely disturbing important economic elements of the province, ruining millions of families and leading to poverty and income inequality. The British government’s response to the crisis led to a general discontent and resentment paving way for important political ramifications. Several political groups including the Indian National Congress staged protests condemning the denial policies of the British Raj that proved drastic for Bengali peasants. There were nationwide opposition to the boat denial policy. Such nationalist sentiments that were observed across the country bolstered the Indian independence movement and contributed significantly to the way the ‘Quit India’ movement of 1942 shaped up.

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