The aim of this paper is to give a picture of the famine and all its elements as complete as possible within the restraints of this paper, as well as discussing several different theories as to the cause of the famine, e.g. food availability decline and food entitlement decline. At the end of the paper, the question “What caused the Great Bengal Famine?” will be extensively answered from as many perspectives as possible by comparing and criticizing them throughout the text.
Establishing the incidence, spread, and severity of famines in the past has never been easy. There is a plethora of preconditions, causes and hazards coming together resulting in disaster. This is no different in the case of the Great Bengal Famine or Ponchasher Monnontor in 1943-44. In examining the causes of this particular famine, not only are there a lot of different factors to consider, but there are many contradictory theories surrounding the events taking place in the province of Bengal during that time period. Further complicating the research is the uncertainty on circumstances surrounding the famine and the official inquiry published by the colonial government. Over and beyond there does not seem a complete study on the Great Bengal Famine considering and comparing all aspects of the time and most of the theories surrounding it.
This goal is going to be accomplished by discussing the general history and the key data of the Bengal famine 1943-44 in the first chapter. The following and main chapter of the paper concentrates on causes and hazards in regard to the Great Bengal Famine and is threefold. First, there is a discussion about natural causes including a description of the natural hazards occurring at the beginning of the famine, a description of the consequential rice shortage and a closer look at the food availability decline (FAD) approach. Second, the socio-economic causes of the famine will be examined in connection with the concept of vulnerability, the food entitlement decline (FED) approach and the hoarding and speculation claim by the colonial government will be discussed. Third, a closer look will be taken at political causes of the famine including the war related policies instated during the Second World War in Bengal and famine relief policies as well as the general approach to the Great Bengal Famine the colonial government exhibited. At the end, the different causes are being put in relation to each other and their interplay is discussed.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
3.1. Natural Causes
3.1.1. Natural Hazards
3.1.2. Food Availability Decline (FAD)
3.2. Socio-economic Causes
3.2.1. Vulnerability: Poverty and Inequality
3.2.2. Food Entitlement Decline (FED)
3.2.3. Hoarding and Speculation
3.3. Political Causes
3.3.1. The Second World War and War Policies
3.3.2. Famine Policies
4. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Topics
This paper aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the Great Bengal Famine of 1943-44 by evaluating, comparing, and criticizing various existing theories—such as Food Availability Decline (FAD) and Food Entitlement Decline (FED)—to extensively answer the fundamental research question: "What caused the Great Bengal Famine?"
- The role of natural hazards and environmental factors in triggering the famine.
- Socio-economic vulnerabilities, including poverty, inequality, and entitlement failures.
- The impact of political factors, specifically Second World War policies.
- A critical evaluation of colonial government actions and famine relief management.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1.1. Natural Hazards
A prime risk factor for any kind of disaster is geography, in specific the climatic settings that come with it (cf. Van Bavel et al 2020, 74). The province of Bengal experienced both periods of draught as well as periods of flood regularly due to the ENSO (El Niño Southern Oscillation) phenomenon. The El Niño phase of this phenomenon causes draughts in South Asia, while the La Niña phase causes floods. These fluctuations present a hazard on their own if one of the phases stretches out over an extended period of time leading. Although this may be a contributing factor to a famine, it cannot be understood as a stand-alone cause for them since there have been long periods of draught or flood recorded, which haven’t caused famines.
On October 16, 1942 a cyclone struck the region of Midnapore, Bengal, followed by heavy rain and three tidal waves, which greatly damaged the aman crop (cf. Famine Inquiry Commission 1945, 32). Due to the dampness and high humidity caused by these events a fungus disease befell the crops causing further damage (cf. Tauger 2006, 58). These natural hazards must be understood as interconnected:
The cyclone, flooding and generally warm, humid, cloudy weather reinforced and spread a serious plant disease, and all were part of the larger process that culminated in a disastrous aman harvest in 1942, and the Bengal famine of 1943. (Tauger 2006, 66)
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Presents the research scope, the complexity of identifying famine causes, and the planned structure of the analysis.
3.1. Natural Causes: Analyzes the environmental triggers such as cyclones, floods, and the resulting plant disease, while introducing the FAD approach.
3.2. Socio-economic Causes: Examines vulnerability based on poverty and examines the FED approach alongside claims of hoarding and speculation.
3.3. Political Causes: Discusses the influence of Second World War policies and the administrative failings of the colonial government regarding famine management.
4. Conclusion: Synthesizes the findings, arguing that the famine was a complex interaction of systemic, socio-economic, and political factors, ultimately characterizing it as a "man-made" event.
Keywords
Great Bengal Famine, 1943, India, FAD, Food Availability Decline, FED, Food Entitlement Decline, Colonial Government, Second World War, Natural Hazards, Poverty, Entitlement, Famine Policy, War Policies, Starvation
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper examines the multifaceted causes of the Great Bengal Famine of 1943-44, exploring whether it was primarily a result of natural disasters, socio-economic failures, or political decisions.
What are the central thematic fields covered?
The study covers natural hazards, economic vulnerability, food entitlement theories, and the political actions (and inactions) of the British colonial government during the Second World War.
What is the primary research goal?
The main objective is to move beyond single-cause explanations and provide a comprehensive, critical analysis that answers what truly caused the devastating famine.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The research relies on a comparative analysis of existing historical theories, such as the Food Availability Decline (FAD) and Food Entitlement Decline (FED) models, supported by evidence from contemporary reports and scholarly historical data.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body breaks down causes into natural factors (e.g., climate, plant disease), socio-economic drivers (e.g., poverty, market speculation), and political triggers (e.g., war policies, denial of relief).
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Great Bengal Famine, Food Availability Decline (FAD), Food Entitlement Decline (FED), colonial administration, and socio-economic vulnerability.
How does the author evaluate the "hoarding" claim of the government?
The author argues that there is little evidence to support the claim that hoarding was the primary cause, suggesting that the government used this narrative to deflect from the actual food shortage.
What role did Winston Churchill's policies play according to the text?
The text suggests that the imperial government, led by Churchill, prioritized the British war effort over the survival of the colonial population, leading to the exacerbation of the famine conditions.
- Quote paper
- Katrin Simon (Author), 2023, What Caused the Great Bengal Famine 1943-44? A Closer Look at Natural, Socio-economic and Political Causes, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1347651
