The Rajputana famine of 1869 (also the Great Rajputana Famine, Bundelkhand and Upper Hindustan famine, Rajputana famine of 1868-70) affected an area of 296,000 square miles (770,000 km2) and a population of 44,500,000, primarily in the princely states of Rajputana, India, and the British territory of Ajmer. Other areas affected included Gujarat, the North Deccan districts, the Jubbalpore division of the Central Provinces and Berar, the Agra and Bundelkhand division of the United Provinces, and the Hissar division of the Punjab.[1]
late, brief monsoons, water shortage, swarms of locusts, epidemics
Map of Rajputana consisting of the princely states of the Rajputana Agency and the British territory of Ajmer-Merwara, in 1909; the map was little changed since the year of the famine, 1869.
The monsoon of 1868 was late in coming. When it came, was light and brief, lasting until only August 1868.[1] There was a shortage of fodder in most areas of Rajputana, and some areas had water shortages as well. Since the much-needed grain could be brought in only on slow camel trains, the stricken areas were more or less inaccessible.[1]
Many inhabitants of the famine-stricken regions of Rajputana (for example, two-thirds of the population of Marwar) emigrated with their livestock or herds.[1] Initially, they did not go to the British territory of Ajmer, where relief works had been arranged; many wandered in search of food until they died from starvation.[1] Late in 1868, epidemics of cholera broke out among the vulnerable population, and there was no harvest in the spring of 1869.[1]
In May 1869, many villagers, who had emigrated earlier now returned to their villages believing that the rains would be early. However, the rains held off until mid-July and, in the interim, many thousands more died of starvation.[1] Even so, the autumn harvest promised to be abundant, but swarms of locusts descended upon the fields and destroyed the young crops.[1] In September and October 1869, there were heavy rains that, although good for the spring harvest, caused an epidemic of malaria and killed many more.[1] Finally, the anticipated harvest of spring 1870 arrived and ended the famine.
Relief
Having been criticized for the badly bungled relief effort during the Orissa famine of 1866,[2] British authorities began to discuss famine policy soon afterwards. In early 1868, Sir William Muir, Lieutenant-Governor of Agra Province, issued a famous order stating that:[3]
"every District officer would be held personally responsible that no deaths occurred from starvation which could have been avoided by any exertion or arrangement on his part or that of his subordinates."
The Government of British India organized famine relief works in the British territory of Ajmer and in neighboring Agra Province of British India.[1] In Ajmer, Rs. 49 lakhs were spent in the relief effort, Rs. 5 lakh in revenue remission, and Rs. 21 lakhs in a new scheme for agricultural credit.[1] In Agra, another Rs. 30 lakhs were spent in relieving 29 million units (i.e., one person for one day).[1]
The princely states of Rajputana provided very little relief: only Udaipur State spent Rs. 5 lakhs.[4] Consequently, the immigration from the princely states into British India in the later stages of the famine began to overwhelm British efforts. In spite of Muir's newly defined responsibility for each district officer, the resulting mortality was great.[4] It is thought that over 1.5 million people died all over Rajputana during the famine.[4]
Hall-Matthews, David (2008), "Inaccurate Conceptions: Disputed Measures of Nutritional Needs and Famine Deaths in Colonial India", Modern Asian Studies, 42 (1): 1–24, doi:10.1017/S0026749X07002892, S2CID 146232991
Imperial Gazetteer of India vol. III (1907), The Indian Empire, Economic (Chapter X: Famine, pp. 475–502, Published under the authority of His Majesty's Secretary of State for India in Council, Oxford at the Clarendon Press. Pp. xxx, 1 map, 552.
Further reading
Ambirajan, S. (1976), "Malthusian Population Theory and Indian Famine Policy in the Nineteenth Century", Population Studies, 30 (1): 5–14, doi:10.2307/2173660, JSTOR 2173660, PMID 11630514
Arnold, David; Moore, R. I. (1991), Famine: Social Crisis and Historical Change (New Perspectives on the Past), Wiley-Blackwell. Pp. 164, ISBN978-0-631-15119-7
Bhatia, B. M. (1991), Famines in India: A Study in Some Aspects of the Economic History of India With Special Reference to Food Problem, 1860–1990, Stosius Inc/Advent Books Division. Pp. 383, ISBN978-81-220-0211-9
Dutt, Romesh Chunder (2005) [1900], Open Letters to Lord Curzon on Famines and Land Assessments in India, London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co. Ltd (reprinted by Adamant Media Corporation), ISBN978-1-4021-5115-6
Dyson, Tim (1991), "On the Demography of South Asian Famines: Part I", Population Studies, 45 (1): 5–25, doi:10.1080/0032472031000145056, JSTOR 2174991, PMID 11622922
Dyson, Tim (1991), "On the Demography of South Asian Famines: Part II", Population Studies, 45 (2): 279–297, doi:10.1080/0032472031000145446, JSTOR 2174784, PMID 11622922
Dyson, Time, ed. (1989), India's Historical Demography: Studies in Famine, Disease and Society, Riverdale MD: The Riverdale Company. Pp. ix, 296
Famine Commission (1880), Report of the Indian Famine Commission, Part I, Calcutta
Ghose, Ajit Kumar (1982), "Food Supply and Starvation: A Study of Famines with Reference to the Indian Subcontinent", Oxford Economic Papers, New Series, 34 (2): 368–389, doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.oep.a041557, PMID 11620403
Government of India (1867), Report of the Commissioners Appointed to Enquire into the Famine in Bengal and Orissa in 1866, Volumes I, II, Calcutta
Hill, Christopher V. (1991), "Philosophy and Reality in Riparian South Asia: British Famine Policy and Migration in Colonial North India", Modern Asian Studies, 25 (2): 263–279, doi:10.1017/s0026749x00010672, S2CID 144560088
McAlpin, Michelle B. (1983), "Famines, Epidemics, and Population Growth: The Case of India", Journal of Interdisciplinary History, 14 (2): 351–366, doi:10.2307/203709, JSTOR 203709
Mellor, John W.; Gavian, Sarah (1987), "Famine: Causes, Prevention, and Relief", Science, New Series, 235 (4788): 539–545, Bibcode:1987Sci...235..539M, doi:10.1126/science.235.4788.539, JSTOR 1698676, PMID 17758244, S2CID 3995896
January 06, 2023
rajputana, famine, 1869, also, great, rajputana, famine, bundelkhand, upper, hindustan, famine, rajputana, famine, 1868, affected, area, square, miles, population, primarily, princely, states, rajputana, india, british, territory, ajmer, other, areas, affected. The Rajputana famine of 1869 also the Great Rajputana Famine Bundelkhand and Upper Hindustan famine Rajputana famine of 1868 70 affected an area of 296 000 square miles 770 000 km2 and a population of 44 500 000 primarily in the princely states of Rajputana India and the British territory of Ajmer Other areas affected included Gujarat the North Deccan districts the Jubbalpore division of the Central Provinces and Berar the Agra and Bundelkhand division of the United Provinces and the Hissar division of the Punjab 1 Rajputana famine of 1869Countryprincely states of Rajputana India and the British territory of AjmerPeriod1869Total deaths1 5 millionObservationslate brief monsoons water shortage swarms of locusts epidemicsMap of Rajputana consisting of the princely states of the Rajputana Agency and the British territory of Ajmer Merwara in 1909 the map was little changed since the year of the famine 1869 Contents 1 Course of famine 2 Relief 3 See also 4 Notes 5 References 6 Further readingCourse of famine EditThe monsoon of 1868 was late in coming When it came was light and brief lasting until only August 1868 1 There was a shortage of fodder in most areas of Rajputana and some areas had water shortages as well Since the much needed grain could be brought in only on slow camel trains the stricken areas were more or less inaccessible 1 Many inhabitants of the famine stricken regions of Rajputana for example two thirds of the population of Marwar emigrated with their livestock or herds 1 Initially they did not go to the British territory of Ajmer where relief works had been arranged many wandered in search of food until they died from starvation 1 Late in 1868 epidemics of cholera broke out among the vulnerable population and there was no harvest in the spring of 1869 1 In May 1869 many villagers who had emigrated earlier now returned to their villages believing that the rains would be early However the rains held off until mid July and in the interim many thousands more died of starvation 1 Even so the autumn harvest promised to be abundant but swarms of locusts descended upon the fields and destroyed the young crops 1 In September and October 1869 there were heavy rains that although good for the spring harvest caused an epidemic of malaria and killed many more 1 Finally the anticipated harvest of spring 1870 arrived and ended the famine Relief EditHaving been criticized for the badly bungled relief effort during the Orissa famine of 1866 2 British authorities began to discuss famine policy soon afterwards In early 1868 Sir William Muir Lieutenant Governor of Agra Province issued a famous order stating that 3 every District officer would be held personally responsible that no deaths occurred from starvation which could have been avoided by any exertion or arrangement on his part or that of his subordinates The Government of British India organized famine relief works in the British territory of Ajmer and in neighboring Agra Province of British India 1 In Ajmer Rs 49 lakhs were spent in the relief effort Rs 5 lakh in revenue remission and Rs 21 lakhs in a new scheme for agricultural credit 1 In Agra another Rs 30 lakhs were spent in relieving 29 million units i e one person for one day 1 The princely states of Rajputana provided very little relief only Udaipur State spent Rs 5 lakhs 4 Consequently the immigration from the princely states into British India in the later stages of the famine began to overwhelm British efforts In spite of Muir s newly defined responsibility for each district officer the resulting mortality was great 4 It is thought that over 1 5 million people died all over Rajputana during the famine 4 See also EditTimeline of major famines in India during British rule 1765 to 1947 Famines Epidemics and Public Health in the British Raj Company rule in India Famine in India Drought in IndiaNotes Edit a b c d e f g h i j k l Imperial Gazetteer of India vol III 1907 p 487 Hall Matthews 2008 p 1 Imperial Gazetteer of India vol III 1907 p 478 a b c Imperial Gazetteer of India vol III 1907 p 488References EditHall Matthews David 2008 Inaccurate Conceptions Disputed Measures of Nutritional Needs and Famine Deaths in Colonial India Modern Asian Studies 42 1 1 24 doi 10 1017 S0026749X07002892 S2CID 146232991 Imperial Gazetteer of India vol III 1907 The Indian Empire Economic Chapter X Famine pp 475 502 Published under the authority of His Majesty s Secretary of State for India in Council Oxford at the Clarendon Press Pp xxx 1 map 552 Further reading EditAmbirajan S 1976 Malthusian Population Theory and Indian Famine Policy in the Nineteenth Century Population Studies 30 1 5 14 doi 10 2307 2173660 JSTOR 2173660 PMID 11630514 Arnold David Moore R I 1991 Famine Social Crisis and Historical Change New Perspectives on the Past Wiley Blackwell Pp 164 ISBN 978 0 631 15119 7 Bhatia B M 1991 Famines in India A Study in Some Aspects of the Economic History of India With Special Reference to Food Problem 1860 1990 Stosius Inc Advent Books Division Pp 383 ISBN 978 81 220 0211 9 Dutt Romesh Chunder 2005 1900 Open Letters to Lord Curzon on Famines and Land Assessments in India London Kegan Paul Trench Trubner amp Co Ltd reprinted by Adamant Media Corporation ISBN 978 1 4021 5115 6 Dyson Tim 1991 On the Demography of South Asian Famines Part I Population Studies 45 1 5 25 doi 10 1080 0032472031000145056 JSTOR 2174991 PMID 11622922 Dyson Tim 1991 On the Demography of South Asian Famines Part II Population Studies 45 2 279 297 doi 10 1080 0032472031000145446 JSTOR 2174784 PMID 11622922 Dyson Time ed 1989 India s Historical Demography Studies in Famine Disease and Society Riverdale MD The Riverdale Company Pp ix 296 Famine Commission 1880 Report of the Indian Famine Commission Part I Calcutta Ghose Ajit Kumar 1982 Food Supply and Starvation A Study of Famines with Reference to the Indian Subcontinent Oxford Economic Papers New Series 34 2 368 389 doi 10 1093 oxfordjournals oep a041557 PMID 11620403 Government of India 1867 Report of the Commissioners Appointed to Enquire into the Famine in Bengal and Orissa in 1866 Volumes I II Calcutta Hill Christopher V 1991 Philosophy and Reality in Riparian South Asia British Famine Policy and Migration in Colonial North India Modern Asian Studies 25 2 263 279 doi 10 1017 s0026749x00010672 S2CID 144560088 McAlpin Michelle B 1983 Famines Epidemics and Population Growth The Case of India Journal of Interdisciplinary History 14 2 351 366 doi 10 2307 203709 JSTOR 203709 Mellor John W Gavian Sarah 1987 Famine Causes Prevention and Relief Science New Series 235 4788 539 545 Bibcode 1987Sci 235 539M doi 10 1126 science 235 4788 539 JSTOR 1698676 PMID 17758244 S2CID 3995896 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rajputana famine of 1869 amp oldid 1091207372, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
