The Bengal famine of 1943 was a tragic event that resulted in the loss of more than three million lives in eastern India. Despite the devastating impact of this famine, there is no official memorial or museum to commemorate the lives lost. However, there are still a few survivors of this catastrophic event, and Sailen Sarkar, a passionate individual, has taken it upon himself to gather their stories before it is too late.
Bijoykrishna Tripathi, one of the survivors, vividly recalls the horrors of the famine, where people resorted to extreme measures like selling their children for a little rice. With a looming sense of urgency, Sailen has been traveling around the Bengali countryside, capturing firsthand testimonies from survivors like Bijoykrishna and Sripaticharan Samanta.
The causes of the Bengal famine were complex, with a culmination of factors including the disruption of rice supplies due to the war, wartime inflation, and British policies that exacerbated the crisis. The relief efforts, though initiated late, could not save many lives that had already perished.
Sailen’s efforts to document the survivors’ stories shed light on a dark chapter in Indian history that is often overshadowed. The survivors’ accounts offer a poignant glimpse into the suffering and resilience of those who endured the famine. Sailen’s dedication to preserving these stories ensures that the victims of the Bengal famine are not forgotten, and their voices are heard amidst the silence that has surrounded this tragedy for decades.
