The Great Bengal Famine of 1770: A Colonial Catastrophe

In this episode of The Hidden History of Bengal, Lucas and Luna examine the Great Bengal Famine of 1770, a catastrophe that killed an estimated ten million people. They explore how the East India Company's policies—including excessive taxation, the monopolization of grain, and the failure to remit revenue during drought—turned a natural scarcity into a man-made disaster. The conversation covers key figures like Warren Hastings, the company's governor, and the zamindars who were forced to extract revenue regardless of crop failure. Lucas explains the concept of 'diwani rights' granted after the Battle of Buxar, which gave the company control over Bengal's revenue and led to systematic exploitation. The episode also touches on the long-term consequences: the famine weakened Bengal's economy, depopulated vast areas, and sowed seeds of resentment that would later fuel anti-colonial movements. Specific details include the role of the Company's 'cornmeal' policy, the plight of weavers and peasants, and the controversial response of the British government. This episode offers a nuanced look at how colonial administration exacerbated natural disaster, a story still relevant today. #BengalFamine1770 #EastIndiaCompany #WarrenHastings #DiwaniRights #BattleOfBuxar #BengalHistory #ColonialIndia #Famine #Zamindar #BritishRaj #MughalDecline #History #FexingoHistory #SouthAsianHistory #EconomicHistory #HumanitarianCrisis #18thCentury #ClimateHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo