Q18.Why was there a sudden spurt in famines in colonial India since the mid-eighteenth century? Give reasons.

Colonial India saw a sudden spurt in famines from the mid-18th century, transforming natural droughts into widespread humanitarian disasters due to systemic colonial policies.

Colonial Economic Policies

• Commercial agriculture prioritized cash crops over food grains, reducing local food security.
• Heavy land revenue demands impoverished farmers, forcing distress sales.
• De-industrialization destroyed livelihoods, increasing agrarian dependence.

Administrative Neglect and Infrastructure

• Initial lack of famine codes and inadequate, delayed relief were common.
• Administration prioritized revenue over public welfare.
• Limited irrigation investment made agriculture monsoon-dependent.

Breakdown of Traditional Systems and Market Dynamics

• New land tenure systems eroded village self-sufficiency and local grain storage.
• Famines became market-driven; food was available but unaffordable for the impoverished.

Exacerbation of Natural Calamities

Colonial policies amplified drought impacts by depleting food reserves and weakening population resilience.

The surge in famines resulted from exploitative colonial policies, administrative apathy, and destruction of indigenous coping mechanisms.