Bengal famine of 1943
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Bengal famine of 1943 পঞ্চাশের মন্বন্তর |
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| Country | British India |
| Location | Bengal |
| Period | 1943–44 |
| Total deaths | 1.5 to 4 million |
| Observations | Policy failure, war |
The Bengal famine of 1943 (Bengali: পঞ্চাশের মন্বন্তর Pañcāśēr Manbantar) struck the Bengal Province of British India (present-day West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar and the country of Bangladesh) during World War II following the Japanese invasion of Burma. Approximately 3 million people died due to famine. Generally the estimates are between 1.5 and 4 million, taking into account deaths due to starvation, malnutrition and disease, out of Bengal's 60.3 million population. Half of the victims died from disease after food became available in December 1943. Although food production was higher in 1943 compared to 1941, demand exceeded the supply. As in previous Bengal famines, the highest mortality was not in previously very poor groups, but among artisans and small traders whose income vanished when people spent all they had on food and did not employ cobblers, carpenters, etc. The famine also caused major economic and social disruption, affecting millions of families.
The food situation in India was tight from the beginning of the Second World War, with a series of crop failures and localized famines which were dealt with successfully under the Indian Famine Codes. In Bengal in 1940-41 there was a small scale famine, although quick action by the authorities prevented widespread loss of life. Food prices increased throughout India, and the Central Government was forced to undertake meetings with local government officials and release regulations of price controls.
The proximate cause of the famine was a reduction in supply with some increase in demand. The winter 1942 aman rice crop, which was already expected to be poor or indifferent, was hit by a cyclone and three tidal waves in October. An area of 450 square miles were swept by tidal waves, 400 square miles affected by floods and 3200 square miles damaged by wind and torrential rain. Reserve stocks in the hands of cultivators, consumers and dealers were destroyed. This killed 14,500 people and 190,000 cattle. "The homes, livelihood and property of nearly 2.5 million Bengalis were ruined or damaged." The fungus Cochliobolus miyabeanus destroyed 50% to 90% of some rice varieties, causing even greater damage to yield than the cyclone.
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