The Great Indian Famine began in 1876 and lasted until 1878. Close to eleven million people died in southern and western India. The famine was brought about by the failed monsoon that year that would normally bring in precipitation for crops. Farmers counted on the moisture and tragically, it never came. As a result, crops failed and the cost of grains skyrocketed. The farmers, already deeply in debt, sold equipment, cattle, and even their lands to be able to get food to feed their families. The policies of the British did not help the people of India and were the cause of the indebtedness of the Indian people. The officials in charge of determining the amount of taxes were self-serving individuals who were not honest in their assessments, leading to unfair levels of taxes. When the drought began, the farmers were already indebted unfairly. Unfortunately, the drought lasted not just one year, but two. Much of the area’s productions turned to cash crops and the price of those crops dropped. This is most notable in the cotton crops, where cultivators lost their sources of income. At the center of the indebted farmers was the hefty annual land taxes that came due despite the failure of crops. By 1875, the crisis was so dire that the farmers rioted against the local moneylenders when they refused to lend more money to the peasants who needed cash to pay their taxes.

 In the midst of this crisis, there were many who looked to see the cause of such turmoil. Many speculated that overpopulation was the cause. They argued that the most densely populated regions were the most affected. The British looked to the railways to correct these issues and proposed the building of railways at this time. They argued that is was not lack of food that was the problem, but access to food. Eventually, the rains came and the crops were once again established. Despite this, the railways were expanded and were seen as a way of preventing a famine. Regardless of whether the railways would actually help, the theory that they could help helped change the way famine is viewed--not so much as lack of food, but lack of access to food.

Kathleen Frederickson, “British Writers on Population, Infrastructure, and the Great Indian Famine of 1876-8.″ http://www.branchcollective.org/?ps_articles=kathleen-frederickson-british-writers-on-population-infrastructure-and-the-great-indian-famine-of-1876-8. Accessed 10 December 2018.