British Laissez-Faire Policies Worsen Famines

Subject

Indian National Movement

Chapter

Advent of the Europeans

  • Colonial state followed non-intervention policy in trade since 1833
  • Government applied laissez-faire principles to famine relief
  • Western-educated Indians argued British policies impoverished India
  • Orissa famine killed one-third of region's population
  • Dadabhai Naoroji initiated research on Indian poverty after Orissa famine