EPISODE · Jul 4, 2026 · 11 MIN
The Forgotten Famine of 1769: Bengal Before the British
from The Hidden History of Bengal: Kingdoms, Empires, and Revolution — Fexingo History · host Fexingo
Before the Great Bengal Famine of 1770, there was another disaster that historians often overlook: the famine of 1769 that struck the region just as the British East India Company was consolidating power. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how a failed monsoon, hoarding by Company officials, and the collapse of Mughal-era grain networks created a catastrophe that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. They discuss the role of zamindars, the Company's revenue demands under the Diwani of Bengal, and how this earlier famine foreshadowed the more famous 1770 disaster. Along the way, they examine the policies of Company Governor John Cartier, the resistance of local merchants, and the long-term effects on Bengal's rural economy. This is a story of systemic failure, not just weather, and it reveals the brutal mechanics of early colonial rule in South Asia. #BengalFamine1769 #EastIndiaCompany #JohnCartier #Diwani #Mughal #Zamindars #BritishColonialism #Famine #Bihar #Orissa #Hooghly #Murshidabad #CompanyRaj #ClimateHistory #EconomicHistory #Bengal #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
What this episode covers
Before the Great Bengal Famine of 1770, there was another disaster that historians often overlook: the famine of 1769 that struck the region just as the British East India Company was consolidating power. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how a failed monsoon, hoarding by Company officials, and the collapse of Mughal-era grain networks created a catastrophe that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. They discuss the role of zamindars, the Company's revenue demands under the Diwani of Bengal, and how this earlier famine foreshadowed the more famous 1770 disaster. Along the way, they examine the policies of Company Governor John Cartier, the resistance of local merchants, and the long-term effects on Bengal's rural economy. This is a story of systemic failure, not just weather, and it reveals the brutal mechanics of early colonial rule in South Asia. #BengalFamine1769 #EastIndiaCompany #JohnCartier #Diwani #Mughal #Zamindars #BritishColonialism #Famine #Bihar #Orissa #Hooghly #Murshidabad #CompanyRaj #ClimateHistory #EconomicHistory #Bengal #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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The Forgotten Famine of 1769: Bengal Before the British
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