INDIAN FAMINES - Institute for Social and Economic Change

MITIGATIVE MEASU~.
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the natives of India, and. until it is recognised
there will always be one stumbling-block
in our way. I quote from Dr Hunter in his
account of the 1770 famine, the words being
more or less applicable to the present day:
" Tb~ ·loss of life was accepted as a natural
and logical consequence of the loss of the crop.
The earth yielded no food, and so the people
in the ordinary and legitimate course of things
died." This notion is not confined to India
alone; it may be termed a p1lljly orieJ).tal doctrine-it
pervades the length and breadth of
Asia. Dr Bellew, befdre quoted, in. speaking
of the famine of 1870 in Persia, gives us the
following dialogue between himself and one of
the Persian escort attached to their party
«' Nobody cares for us, and the villagers have
nothing we can take from them.' • It is hard,'
1 said, 'but it is the custom of the country.'
• Y as, it is the custom of the country,' was the
ready reply, 'and that is why the country is
ruined.' 'With the aid of famine,' I add.
, The famine! no j that is a decree of God, and
we must submit. No one can fight against
what God ord~ins.''' With such sentiments as
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