Jan 24, 2015

Bengal famine of 1943 - A Photographic History - Part 1

The Bengal famine of 1943  occurred in undivided Bengal (now independent Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal) in 1943. It is estimated that over three million people died from starvation, malnutrition and related illnesses during the famine.
This photographs are taken from Life archive hosted by Google. The photographer was William Vandivert. See the true face of British Raj and how they governed India at the end of their reign.

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

Starving families sitting in the hot scortching sunStarving families sitting in the hot scortching sun

Starving women waiting for the government controlled Grain Shop to openStarving women waiting for the government controlled Grain Shop to open

The skeleton of a starved man lying in a field after being eaten by vultures and jackalsThe skeleton of a starved man lying in a field after being eaten by vultures and jackals

Children poking grain cars with wires, trying to pierce bags and pull grain down into bagsChildren poking grain cars with wires, trying to pierce bags and pull grain down into bags

A young Hindu girl serving food to the starving citizens suffering from the famineA young Hindu girl serving food to the starving citizens suffering from the famine

An Bengali girl lying on the roadside, died in her sleepAn Bengali girl lying on the roadside, died in her sleep

Starving Hindus waiting for the government controlled Grain Shop to openStarving Hindus waiting for the government controlled Grain Shop to open

Hindus burning their starved dead at the Calcutta Myrone MemorialHindus burning their starved dead at the Calcutta Myrone Memorial

Starving Hindus lining up for government handouts in CalcuttaStarving people lining up for government handouts in Calcutta

Starving Hindus lining up for government handouts in CalcuttaStarving people lining up for government handouts in Calcutta