THE FAMINE IN BENGAL
SIR,—Knowing for certain how long it will take this letter to reach you, if it at all reaches, I cannot help writing a few words about " The Famine in Bengal" published in your issue of October 15th, 1943. I do not profess to. know about the impression of people living in England about our food-crisis ; but having lived through the critical period here and also as a newspaper man, I know what Actually happened in Bengal. The authorities rightly anticipated a crisis, but they never accepted the fact publicly till when people began to die of starvation. In March, 5943, the then Chief Minister of Bengal, Mr. A. K. Fazlul Huq, apprehended an acute shortage of food in the country and gave indications accordingly. But as soon as Sir Nazimuddin took over charge of the new Bengal Ministry, he openly denied shortage. He-rather carried on a propaganda against Mr. Huq for having given false alarms. This sort of conflicting declarations from men in authority was not only confusing but opposed to public interest.
Measures to avoid the catastrophe was never taken up by the Govern- ment ; and Government relief came long after the public institutions had begun their haphazard relief-work. Conferences, plans and policies were of course not wanting ; but they were affairs of pen and paper only. Different varieties of controls " were also imposed froin time to time to control the movement, price and availability of food-grains ; but they were matters of convenient courtesy so far as the public was concerned. Government controls helped a few chosen business-men in monopolising the trade' and swelling their margin of profits more than to ease the actual situation.
Cyclone in south-west Bengal and stoppage of Burma rice has been as much ,a factor of the famine in Bengal as the inefficiency, neglect and jobbery of the authorities.—Yours very truly, DIPENDRANATH SIRCAR.
Behar Herald Press.
(" Government " in this letter clearly refers to the Bengal Provincial Government.--En., The Spectator.]
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