The Orissa Famine of 1866: A Man-Made Catastrophe
Q: Discuss the Orissa Famine of 1866.
The Orissa Famine of 1866, poignantly known as the Na'Anka Durbhiksha, was one of the most devastating calamities in the history of modern Odisha. Occurring in the 9th regnal year (Na-Anka) of King Dibyasingha Deva, it resulted in the death of nearly one-third of the population (approx. 1 million people), exposing the callousness of the British Laissez-faire policy.
Historian Bhabani Charan Ray characterizes the famine as a monumental failure of the colonial administration. Its critical aspects include:
- Causes: While triggered by the failure of monsoon in 1865, the root causes were structural. The British insisted on rigid revenue collection in cash despite crop failure. Furthermore, the export of rice continued even as local stocks depleted, reflecting a total lack of foresight by the Bengal government.
- Administrative Apathy: The Board of Revenue underestimated the crisis. Sir Cecil Beadon, the Lieutenant-Governor, visited Odisha but failed to realize the gravity of the situation. This administrative lethargy prevented timely imports of grain into the isolated province.
- Consequences: The famine led to massive depopulation and agrarian distress. However, it acted as a catalyst for the birth of Odia Nationalism. Leaders like Madhusudan Das and Fakir Mohan Senapati emerged to champion the cause of Odia identity and administrative separation.
Post-famine, the Campbell Commission (1867) was appointed to investigate the failures, leading to improved irrigation and the construction of the High Level Canal.
In conclusion, the 1866 Famine was a grim reminder of the exploitative nature of British rule. It shifted the political discourse in Odisha from survival to Self-Assertion. For OPSC aspirants, understanding the *Na'Anka* is essential to grasp the structural evolution of modern Odisha and the origins of its nationalist movement.