A Haunting Tragedy: Gender, Caste and Class in the 1866 Famine of Orissa

The book explores the food scarcity and epidemics among womenfolk and vulnerable sections of society in colonial Orissa, challenging colonial administrators' claims about women's resilience. It highlights the impact of male migration on the sex ratio and the lasting effects of famine on consumption preferences, linguistic usages, and cultural habits.

Format: Hardback
Length: 421 pages
Publication date: 06 December 2023
Publisher: Manohar Publishers and Distributors

The book delves into the food scarcity and epidemics experienced by women and other vulnerable sections of society in colonial Orissa, highlighting the ongoing relevance of these issues in the contemporary world. The study of the Orissa Famine of 1866 challenges the colonial administrators' claim that women had a lower mortality rate than men during famines due to their ability to adapt to food scarcity and resistance to infectious diseases. The book presents evidence based on historical, sociological, and biological factors that demonstrate the changing sex ratio during the colonial period. It reveals that male migration, primarily driven by economic opportunities, led to high mortality rates, contributing to the shift in the sex ratio. Furthermore, the book highlights the enduring impact of these experiences on contemporary consumption preferences, linguistic usages, and cultural habits, reflecting the lasting consequences of cataclysmic events.

Weight: 678g
Dimension: 150 x 225 x 31 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789390729630