Question Q.8GS1GS1
Why was there a sudden spurt in famines in colonial India since mid-eighteenth till twenty-first century? Cite reasons.
Main Body
From mid-18th till beginning of 19th century more than two crore people died of starvation caused by famine.
Reasons for Famines:
(A) Economic reasons:
1Revenue policies of Britishers like Permanent land settlement, 1793 extracted maximum rents from peasants.
(A) Deindustrialization: Destruction of Handicraft and artisan industry => increased pressure on Agriculture.
(B) Impoverishment of peasantry by moneylenders, zamindars etc.
9No technological improvement in Agricultural methods.
in Agricultural methods.
(C) Political Reasons:
5Diversion of food supply for military purposes.
6Policies: like Subsidiary alliance and tyranny of lapse => Controlled forces => No focus to peasants. (Responsibility with no authority)
7one way trade policies: cheaper raw material at England & costly goods to India's which poor can't buy.
(C) Social reasons:
8White man's burden: Considering their duty to civilize the Indians => Racist established Attitude => legislated impoverishment for famines in India's due to above reasons.
150 words2 paragraphs
- Clearly categorized reasons
- Specific example provided (1793)
- Systematic structure
- Multi-faceted analysis
- Includes political, social and economic reasons
- Good reference to colonial policies
Topper
Abhishek Singh
2023
Subject & Paper
GS1GS1
Topic
Modern Indian History from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues.
Famines and food security
Causes of famines in colonial India
Writing Stats
150
Total words
2
Paragraphs
formal, structured
Tone