Empire 171. The Bengal Famine: Chaos in Calcutta
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Jul 24, 2024 Join journalist and podcaster Kavita Puri as she uncovers the harrowing realities of the 1943 Bengal Famine, often labeled “Churchill’s Famine.” Puri delves into personal testimonies that reveal the trauma and resilience of survivors. She explores how the famine fueled India’s independence movement, driven by public outrage against British colonial rule. The complexities of aid and government indifference, particularly from figures like Churchill, are laid bare, shedding light on the moral responsibilities of authority during a humanitarian crisis.
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Japanese Propaganda
- Japanese pamphlets depicted Churchill with a feast while a dead Bengali lay beneath.
- This propaganda aimed to portray British indifference and sway Indians to join the Japanese.
A Nation Divided
- Indians in the British Indian Army sometimes fought against other Indians who had joined the Japanese-backed Indian National Army.
- The British censored the word "famine" in India, fearing enemy propaganda, even in letters from families.
Churchill's Remarks
- Churchill downplayed the Bengal famine's severity compared to other wartime starvation.
- He even remarked that the starvation of "underfed Bengalis" was less serious than that of "sturdy Greeks."
