The Great Famine: How the East India Company Starved Bengal

In 1770, the richest province in India starved. The Bengal Famine of 1770 killed an estimated ten million people—roughly a third of the region's population—while the East India Company hoarded grain, raised taxes, and refused relief. Lucas and Luna explore how Company policies—from the diwani revenue system imposed after the Battle of Buxar to the privatisation of trade by senior officials—turned a drought into a catastrophe. They examine the role of the Bengal Council, the decision to export grain for profit, and the devastating impact of tax demands even as crops failed. The episode also covers the aftermath: how the famine shaped British administration in India, spurred debates in London about Company governance, and left a legacy of trauma that fueled later resistance movements. Specific figures discussed include Warren Hastings, Governor-General at the time; Muhammad Reza Khan, the Company's Indian deputy; and the Maratha raids that worsened the crisis. A sobering look at corporate colonialism's human cost. #BengalFamine #EastIndiaCompany #WarrenHastings #Diwani #BattleOfBuxar #MughalEmpire #BritishRaj #Famine #Colonialism #Bengal #Murshidabad #MuhammadRezaKhan #History #FexingoHistory #CorporateEmpire #IndianHistory #Dought #Taxation #BritishEmpire #RobertClive Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo