A famine is a widespread scarcity of food. It can be caused by several factors like war, inflation, crop failure, population imbalance, or government policies. It is usually accompanied or followed by regional malnutrition, starvation, epidemic, and increased mortality.

India was hit by recurrent famine from 1760 AD to till 1943 AD. As per British sources, there were more than 85 million Indians died in these famines which were in reality genocides done by the British Raj.

Timeline of Major Famines in India during British Rule

1. Great Bengal Famine of 1770 :

Region: Bihar, Northern and Central Bengal

Consequences: Around 10 million were people died which was about one third of the then population of Bengal.

Governor-General/ Viceroy [Governors (1758–1774), Governor General of Bengal (1773–1833), Governor General of India (1833–1858)]: John Cartier

2. Chalisa famine of 1782–84 :

Region: Delhi, Western Oudh, Eastern Punjab region, Rajputana, and Kashmir

Consequences: Around 11 million people were died

Governor-General/ Viceroy [Governors (1758–1774), Governor General of Bengal (1773–1833), Governor General of India (1833–1858)]: Warren Hastings

3. Doji Bara famine or Skull famine of 1788–94 :

Region: Hyderabad, Southern Maratha country, Deccan, Gujarat, and Marwar

Consequences: Around 11 million people were died

Governor-General/ Viceroy [Governors (1758–1774), Governor General of Bengal (1773–1833), Governor General of India (1833–1858)]: Charles Cornwallis and Sir John Shore

4. Agra famine of 1837–38 :

Region: Central Doab and trans-Jumna districts of the North-Western Provinces

Consequences: Around 0.8 million (or 800,000) people were died

Governor-General/ Viceroy [Governors (1758–1774), Governor General of Bengal (1773–1833), Governor General of India (1833–1858)]: George Eden

5. Upper Doab famine of 1860–61 :

Region: Upper Doab of Agra; Delhi and Hissar divisions of the Punjab

Consequences: Around 2 million people were died

Governor-General/ Viceroy [Governors (1758–1774), Governor General of Bengal (1773–1833), Governor General of India (1833–1858)]: Lord Canning

6. Orissa famine of 1866 :

Region: Orissa and Bihar

Consequences: Around 1 million (814,469 in Orissa, 135,676 in Bihar) people were died

Governor-General/ Viceroy [Governors (1758–1774), Governor General of Bengal (1773–1833), Governor General of India (1833–1858)]: Lord John Lawrence

7. Rajasthan famine of 1869 :

Region: Ajmer, Western Agra, Eastern Punjab

Consequences: Around 1.5 million people were died

Governor-General/ Viceroy [Governors (1758–1774), Governor General of Bengal (1773–1833), Governor General of India (1833–1858)]: Lord John Lawrence

8. Bihar famine of 1873–74 :

Region: Bihar

Governor-General/ Viceroy [Governors (1758–1774), Governor General of Bengal (1773–1833), Governor General of India (1833–1858)]: Lord Lytton I

9. Southern India famine of 1876–78 :

Region: Madras and Bombay

Consequences: Around 6.1 to 10.3 million people were died

Governor-General/ Viceroy [Governors (1758–1774), Governor General of Bengal (1773–1833), Governor General of India (1833–1858)]: Lord Lytton I

10. Indian famine of 1896–97 :

Region: Madras, Bombay Deccan, Bengal, United Provinces, Central Provinces.

Consequences: Around 5 million people were died

Governor-General/ Viceroy [Governors (1758–1774), Governor General of Bengal (1773–1833), Governor General of India (1833–1858)]: Lord Elgin II

11. Indian famine of 1899–1900 :

Region: Madras, Bombay Deccan, Bengal, United Provinces, Central Provinces.

Consequences: Around 5 million people were died

Governor-General/ Viceroy [Governors (1758–1774), Governor General of Bengal (1773–1833), Governor General of India (1833–1858)]: Lord Curzon

12. Bengal famine of 1943 :

Region: Bengal

Consequences: Around 1.5 million from starvation; 2.1 million including deaths from epidemics

Governor-General/ Viceroy [Governors (1758–1774), Governor General of Bengal (1773–1833), Governor General of India (1833–1858)]: Lord Linlithgow

The history of British rule in India was characterized by number of recurring famines and these famines were the essential consequences of character of British rule in India.

Famine Commissions during British Rule in India

Recurrent famine and huge loss of life due to hunger led the British Government to come under pressure in England. The devastating effects of 1876-78 famine compelled the British Government to do something substantial to check the recurrence of famines in India. Hence, they formed three commissions to evaluate the causes of the famines which are discussed below:  

1. First Famine Commission :

It was set up in 1878 under the Chairmanship of Sir Richard Strachey. The commission recommended state interference in food trade in the event of famine. India witnessed another major famine in 1896-97.

2. Second Famine Commission :

It was constituted in 1897 under the Chairmanship of Sir James Lyall. This commission recommended the development of irrigation facilities.

3. Third Famine Commission :

It was set up in 1900 under the Chairmanship of Sir Anthony (Later Lord) McDonnel to re-evaluate and recommend changes in report of the previous commission, based on the findings of the recent famine. This Commission recommended that the official machinery dealing with a famine must work around the year so that the scarcity of food grains could be controlled well in time.

Though, three Famine Commissions were constituted, but the British Government was never serious in dealing with the welfare plans for the masses. Famines continued to occur and the Famine of Bengal (1943) was the most horrifying. This was one of the worst gifts of the British Rule to India.