When the Rains Failed: From Famine to Food Security

India’s historic dependence on the monsoon—once a trigger for devastating colonial-era famines—and how the country, through policy reforms, food security systems, and technological innovation, bas transformed that vulnerability into resilience, even amid modern climate uncertainties.

- Ruchira Talabatra

India's agriculture has always been intertwined with the annual monsoon. Adequate monsoon rains are the lifeblood of Indian farming, feeding rivers, filling reservoirs, and watering vast fields of rice, wheat, and pulses.

But when the monsoon turns erratic—arriving late, raining too little or too much, or skipping regions entirely—the consequences can be dire. Historically, a failed monsoon often spelt disaster: crop failures, hunger, and even the spectre of famine stalking the land.

In modern times, India has built buffers and safety nets to prevent droughts from escalating into famines, yet erratic monsoons still pose a serious challenge. Climate data show that the monsoon has become increasingly unpredictable, with drought-prone areas expanding by over 50% since the late 1990s and instances of extreme rainfall also surging.

Major Famines in Colonial India

Erratic or failed monsoons were the root cause of many catastrophic famines in India's history. During the British colonial period (18th to mid-20th century), such famines were distressingly frequent and severe. Drought or irregular rains led to repeated crop failures in an agrarian society where most people lived off the land. Without modern irrigation or transport infrastructure, a bad monsoon meant local food production collapsed. However, these natural triggers were often exacerbated by colonial policies and negligence. Some of the most devastating colonial-era famines include:

Great Bengal Famine (1770): Struck Bengal and surrounding areas, causing an estimated 1–10 million deaths. It followed crop failures after erratic rains and was worsened by the East India Company's harsh tax collection and grain hoarding.

Chalisa Famine (1783–84): Hit North India after droughts, causing widespread hunger (around 11 million deaths).