Sources at the British Library

East Indies Series 10. IOR/H/102: 1769-1770, esp. pp. 95-8, Advices from Madras up to 25th Sept. 1769, Famine in Bengal.

East Indies Series 13. IOR/H/105: 1668-1771, esp. pp. 99-107, 31st Aug. 1770; pp. 106-7, 8th Sept. 1770; p. 107, 11th Sept. 1770.

Despatches to Bengal (Original Drafts). 

  • IOR/E/4/621 : 25 Apr 1771-Dec 1773. Aggravation of Famine, 1770, by grain monopoly, Reza Cawn/Khan charged with Acts of oppression during famine and countercharges, pp 67-71; Khan charged on account of Dacca Revenue Deficits, dismissal from office, pp 79-92, 516, 521, 527, 532-7.
  • IOR/E/4/622 : 1774-1775. Moorshedabad, Mahomet Reza Khan (Minister), stipend charged on Revenues, p. 191; Grain, rice Famine (1770), Monopoly - prohibitions, pp. 392, 418; Loss of Revenue, p. 392; Bengal, Meer Jaffier Ali Khan (Nabob of), Dacca Revenue Deficit transactions with Reza Cawn & debt due to Company, p. 420.

Moorshedabad, Mahomet Reza Khan (Minister), Rice Famine in Bengal. Accusations against Company’s Servants: IOR/Z/E/4/2/M358: 1771-1786. Countercharges: IOR/Z/E/4/2/M359: 1771-1786.

Papers from Bengal and Madras. IOR/H/804 : 1746-1785, pp. 237-8, Govindram Metre to Council, Bengal, 20th Nov. 1752, explaining that as the consumption of foodstuffs remains practically constant there must be a rise in revenue when the prices are raised in consequence of famine so long as the rate of duty remains unaltered.

Papers concerning Lt Col Robert Kyd, including his proposal to establish a botanical garden at Calcutta. IOR/H/799: 1786-1788, 21st Aug. 1786 to 6th March 1788, pp. 1-201. Proceedings of the Supreme Council on the establishment of a Botanical Garden on the site of the old Fort of Mackwa Tannah at Calcutta, proposed by Lieut.-Col. Robert Kyd in his letter of 15th April 1786 as a means towards the prevention of Famine and consequent Pestilence by the introduction of foreign Food plants and Trees such as the Sago and Date palms, in the same way as La Bourdounais saved the inhabitants of Bourbon and Mauritius from the constant threat of Famine by the introduction of the Manioc root.

Campbell, George. Extracts from records in the India Office relating to famines in India 1769-1788, to which is appended remarks on the great famine of 1769-70 by W W Hunter. Calcutta, 1868. IOR/V/27/830/14: 1868.

Danvers, F.C. A century of famines, being particulars of all famines that have visited India since the year 1770 and an inquiry as to the best means of providing against them. c1877. IOR/V/27/830/15: c 1877. 
Geddes, J.C. Administrative experience recorded in former famines: extracts from official papers containing instructions for dealing with famine. Calcutta, 1874. IOR/V/27/830/16 : 1874. 
Hunter, William Wilson. The Annals of Rural Bengal. London: Smith, Elder, and Co., 1868-1872.

Subject

Chhiattor-er Monnontor [The Bengal Famine of 1769-70]

Description

The British Library's holdings include a large number of useful sources related to this famine, most prominently, EIC correspondence and proceedings, compilations and accounts by later colonial officers such as William Hunter and George Campbell. Catalogue links to a selection of these are provided here to enable further reading and research. This list contains some interesting examples, not only from Company papers dating from the famine years, but also from some relevant exchanges before and after, which help to understand the wider context and consequences the famine.

Creator

The British Library

Source

The British Library Catalogues

Publisher

University of Exeter

Contributor

Mukherjee, Ayesha

Rights

CC BY-NC

Language

English

Type

Catalogue entry
Digitised resource

Coverage

Bengal, India; 1769-70