Chalisa famine

The Chalisa famine of 1783-84 in South Asia followed unusual El Nino events that began in 1780 CE and created droughts throughout the region. Chalisa (literally, "of the fortieth" in Hindustani) refers to the Vikram Samvat calender year 1840 (1783 CE). The famine affected many parts of North India, especially the Delhi region, present-day Uttar Pradesh, Eastern Punjab, Rajputana, and Kashmir, then all ruled by different Indian rulers. The Chalisa was preceded by a famine in the previous year, 1782-83, in South India, including Madras City and surrounding areas (under British East India Company rule) and in the extended Kingdom of Mysore (under the rule of Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan).

Together the two famines may have depopulated many regions of India, including, for example, 17 per cent of the villages in the Sirkali region of present-day Tamil Nadu, 60 per cent of the villages in the middle Doab of present-day Uttar Pradesh, and over 30 per cent of the villages in the regions around Delhi. It is thought that up to 11 million people may have died in the two famines.

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See also

• Famines, Epidemics, and Public Health in the British Raj
• Company rule in India
• Famine in India
• Drought in India