The Great Bengal Famine

Bengal, which prior to partition of India covered the state of West Bengal in India and Bangladesh, suffered from a calamitous famine in 1943, when it was estimated that two miIIion people died of starvation. The author was ap­ pOinted as Mycologist in Bengal in October 1943 when the famine was at its height. When he travelled to join his new assignment on 18th of October 1943, he could see dead bodies and starving and dying persons all along the way from Bahudurabad Ghat on the Brahmaputra to Dacca. This horrendous situation of several thousands of men, women, and children dying of starva­ tion continued throughout October, November, and December in and around all the important cities in Bengal, especially…