Epidemics killed over 85 lakh in colonial Punjab: study

CHANDIGARH: Though COVID-19 has thrown life out of gear, Punjab has seen far worse outbreaks like malaria, smallpox, cholera and plague. These epidemics broke out recurrently between 1850 and 1947, and killed over 85 lakh people in the state.

Malaria: Fifteen major outbreaks of malaria claimed 51 lakh lives between 1850 and 1947

Plague: Started from Khatkar Kalan in 1898. It killed 25 lakh people by 1947.

Smallpox: Accounted for 8.50 lakh deaths in the region from 1868 to 1947.

Cholera: Twelve major outbreaks between 1866 and 1921, killed 2.5 lakh people.

Dr Sasha Tandon, an associate professor at Panjab University’s Department of Legal Studies, who is known for her work on pattern of epidemics and response of the colonial government in Punjab, says the social reaction now is not much different than what it was hundred years ago. “The rumours, myths, lockdown everything happened then too. The only difference is the state’s response. In those times, colonial rulers were only interested in protecting their officers and staff, but now everybody is getting equal attention,” she says, reported foreign media.

In her paper, ‘Epidemics in Colonial Punjab’, she notes that malaria was the biggest killer in Punjab. Fifteen major malaria outbreaks in the region from 1850-1947, claimed 51.77 lakh lives. A higher rainfall made the central Punjab districts of Jalandhar, Amritsar, Lahore, Gujranwala and Shahpur, Rawalpindi and Peshawar, a perennial breeding ground for mosquitoes, leading to recurrent outbreaks.

Plague emerged as a major killer in the late 19th century. According to the study, from 1897 to 1918, plague erupted with varying intensity in 26 districts, and had a mortality rate which was approximately four times the all-India average.

The disease killed over 25 lakh people in 50 years between 1897 and 1947. The first case occurred at Khatkar Kalan village in the Banga circle on October 17, 1897. Until 1899, the disease remained confined to Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur districts. However, steps to control it were hampered due to the lack of knowledge about the causes till then.

“The outbreak brought about an alarmist response from the British who tried to deal with it comprehensively, often using coercion,” she observes. Smallpox accounted for 8.5 lakh deaths from 1868 to 1947. It broke out with maximum intensity from 1875 to 1919 when nine major outbreaks in 27 districts, claimed almost 2.5 lakh victims. Besides, 12 major cholera outbreaks between 1866 and 1921, killed 2.49 lakh people. The districts most affected by cholera were Gujranwala, Hazara, Rawalpindi, Ambala, Gurgaon, Lahore, Jalandhar, Peshawar, Amritsar and Shahpur. The recurrence of the disease in these areas was attributed to a large number of local and regional fairs which were marked by overcrowding, insanitary conditions, besides inadequate and contaminated water supply.

“Initially, the colonial medical opinion ascribed the epidemics to habits and customs of the natives, and geographical variations. It overlooked the actual causal agents and environmental factors, particularly those created by the colonial policies and measures. The people looked at the government with suspicion and showed reluctance to adopt them. The mortality from epidemics remained rather high in the north-western region till the 1920s.”