In 1771, a massive famine had hit Bengal and neighbouring regions. This can be aptly termed as genocide engineered by British. While Indian rulers would waive off the taxes when a famine would hit, the British were least bothered about the condition of people.

To increase their woes, the Company increased the taxes from 50 to 60 percent. To our surprise, they had a 'reason', it seems. They told that since many farmers had committed suicide, they yield was very low. To cope with this, the taxes were raised.

Were they happy torturing us till here? No! The Company, after wiping Mughal rule, announced to grow only cash crops. If not, you know what would happen next. The protesters were whipped, tortured and sometimes, beaten to death; the women were raped, obviously. With no supply of paddy and vegetables, Indians started to commit suicide or starving to death.

Out of other numerous famines that broke in India, the famine of 1943, took the lives of lakhs of Indians. This was the time when people survived on grass and human flesh. Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom then, was send the pictures of unspoken horrifying conditions of Indians. In response, he said, "I hate Indians. They are a beastly people with a beastly religion. The famine was their own fault for breeding like rabbits."

He also wanted to know that in spite of these famines, why hasn't Gandhi died. His racist nature cannot hid the fact: behind the wealth of the 'West' are the numerous graves of the East.

This Independence day let us not only remember the martyrs but also the victims of the Bengal Famine.