Famine, state and society in North India, c.1800-1840
This thesis examines some of the lesser known aspects of the colonial state, indigenous society and the processes of transformation through the numerous reported instances of scarcity or famine, which affected north India in the early decades of the nineteenth century. The study begins by situating famine years in the context of the process of colonisation, and argues that British policy and changes in the economy and ecology rendered north Indian society more vulnerable to drought and famine. As a consequence, north India experienced the most severe famine of the colonial period in 1837-38, which this thesis analyses at length. The 1837-38 famine witnessed largescale crime and widespread food riots. An analysis of patterns of collective action to preserve rights regarding access to food and subsistence is contrasted with the ambiguity in official perceptions describing it as 'crime'. This is compared with the process of transition from a 'moral economy' to a market economy as experienced in England. This thesis also concentrates on other strategies of survival, e.g. migrations, religious conversions, prostitution, child-selling and famine-foods. This study traces the evolution of the notion that the state
Sharma, Sanjay Kumar
History
Famine, state and society in North India, c.1800-1840. This thesis examines some of the lesser known aspects of the colonial state, indigenous society and the processes of transformation through the numerous reported instances of scarcity or famine, which affected north India in the early decades of the nineteenth century. The study begins by situating famine years in the context of the process of colonisation, and argues that British policy and changes in the economy and ecology rendered north Indian society more vulnerable to drought and famine. As a consequence, north India experienced the most severe famine of the colonial period in 1837-38, which this thesis analyses at length. The 1837-38 famine witnessed largescale crime and widespread food riots. An analysis of patterns of collective action to preserve rights regarding access to food and subsistence is contrasted with the ambiguity in official perceptions describing it as 'crime'. This is compared with the process of transition from a 'moral economy' to a market economy as experienced in England. This thesis also concentrates on other strategies of survival, e.g. migrations, religious conversions, prostitution, child-selling and famine-foods. This study traces the evolution of the notion that the state
famine state_society north india examines lesser know aspect colonial_state indigenous society process transformation numerous report instance scarcity famine affect north india study_begin situate famine year context process colonisation argue british_policy change economy ecology render north indian society vulnerable drought famine consequence north india experience severe famine colonial_period analyse length famine witness largescale crime widespread food riot analysis pattern collective_action preserve right regard access food subsistence contrast ambiguity official perception describe crime compare process transition moral economy market economy experience england also concentrate strategy survival migration religious conversion prostitution child selling famine study trace_evolution notion state