Madras Famine Overexport (1876-1878)
British officials ignored famine regulations when drought struck southern India. Colonial authorities continued grain exports while demanding full tax payments from struggling farmers. People sold food stocks to pay mandatory taxes. Markets functioned perfectly while 5.5 million Indians starved to death. Ships loaded with grain left Indian ports for European markets throughout the crisis. This catastrophe exposed the deadly consequences of colonial policies prioritizing profit over human life.
