Great Famine of 1876–1878

The Great Famine of 1876–1878 was a major famine in British-ruled India in which drought, poverty, and colonial policies led to the deaths of millions of people.

• It affected large parts of southern and central India, especially the Deccan plateau, including areas that are now in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.
• Drought caused crops to fail, but a drought does not automatically become a famine. Many families had little savings, land, or food stored away, so they could not survive long without a harvest.
• Food was still available in some places, yet many starving people could not afford it because prices rose sharply. British officials largely followed a free-market policy: they believed the government should not control food prices or stop grain traders.
• Railways and ports made it possible to move grain out of famine-hit regions for export. This shows an important point: famine can result not only from a shortage of food, but also from unfair access to food.
• Relief camps were set up, but their rules were often harsh. Starving people had to do heavy labour for very small rations, and many were too weak to survive the journey to a camp or the work once they arrived.
• The famine became a powerful example of how colonial rule placed revenue, trade, and imperial interests above the welfare of Indian people. It also encouraged later demands that governments must take responsibility for protecting people during disasters.