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.
Winston Churchill, the hallowed British War prime minister who saved Europe from a monster like Hitler was disturbingly callous about the roaring famine that was swallowing Bengal’s population. He casually diverted the supplies of medical aid and food that was being dispatched to the starving victims to the already well-supplied soldiers of Europe. When entreated upon, he said,
Famine or no famine, Indians will breed like rabbits.
The Delhi Government sent a telegram to him painting a picture of the horrible devastation and the number of people who had died. His only response was,
Then why hasn’t Gandhi died yet?
No comments:
Post a Comment