Episode 26: Malabar Famine Under British Occupation

William Logan, in his book, Malabar, has explored the famine repeatedly faced by this district and chronicled the history and culture of Malabar. Famine related epidemics and large scale mortalities were persistent in the Malabar during the colonial period. The British documents about this have acknowledged that an artificial famine was possible as the district had continually failed to produce sufficient grains for its home population, and further emphasized that the technological advancements in rail, sea, and road made it practically impossible. ​But historical records have shown that Malabar had experienced repeated famines during the British rule as a result of imperial indifference in undertaking famine prevention activities. The famines under colonial rule occurred during 1865, 1876, 1891, and 1896. References 1. Priya, P. “MALABAR FAMINE OF 1943: A CRITIQUE OF WAR SITUATION IN MALABAR (1939-45).” Proceedings of the Indian History Congress, vol. 75, 2014, pp. 628–638. 2. Hogan, William. “Malabar,” Asian Educational Services, 1989. 3. Malabar Collector to Development Secretary on 16 February 1941, Government of Madras, Revenue Department, G.O.No. 1911, 17 June 1943, Tamilnadu State Archives, Chennai. 4. Malabar Collector to Development Secretary on 16 February 1941, Government of Madras, Revenue Department, G.O.No. 1911, 17 June 1943, Tamilnadu State Archives, Chennai 5. Madras Legislative Council Debate, Official Report, Vol IX, No.3, August 1939, Madras, p. 142, RAK.  6. Travancore Administration Report, 1930-40, p.l 17, Kerala State Archives, Trivandrum 7. Malabar District Gazette, 1939, 320, RAK. 8. Madras Administration Report, 1941, 3 14, RAK 9. Local Administration Department , Bundle No. 51, SI. No. 10, G.O.No. 1843, 17 June 1943 10. Public Health Department, Bundle No. 20, SI. Nos 3, 6, 6,7,12, 14, RAK.  11. Various issues of The Hindu: The Indian Express, Madras, Deshabhimani, Calicut, 1943-44.  12. The Hindu , Madras, 2 January 1941.  13. Civil Supplies Department Files (Hereafter CSD), 1 943, Bundle No.8, SI. No.4, RAK.   14. Revenue Department (1941), Ms. Series, G.O. No. 2565,10 November 1941. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pacific-atrocities-education/support