[Points: What it is and its causes—its effect—how to prevent it—its good features.]
Famine means a general scarcity of foodgrains of an extreme nature in a particular part of a country. It is due to a variety of causes. In some countries, as in India, famine is caused by failure of crops on account of drought or insufficient rainfall, or heavy rains and flood. It also follows in the wake of a war, which lays waste large areas in a country. Another cause of famine is the increase of population far in excess of food supply. This is why, famine is more common in over-populated lands.
The horrors of a famine beggar description. For want of food, people are compelled to eat roots of trees and the flesh of objectionable animals. Husbands leave their wives and mothers part with their children. Some, unable to bear the pangs of hunger, even kill their dear ones before they commit suicide. Epidemics break out because people eat whatever they get.
In very ancient times, famine was regarded as sent by God for the punishment of sinful men. So the people remained rather passive. Moreover, difficulties of communication made it impossible to carry timely help to the distressed. But with the progress of reason the real causes of famine have been understood, and means of prevention and relief, found out. Irrigation canals water dry fields and lessen the effects of drought. Dams and embankments control the rivers that cause flood and thus check its violence. Railways, steamers, lurries and other quick means of transport bring foodgrains from surplus areas, even from foreign lands, to the affected parts. Farmers are being taught improved methods of cultivation with the use of good manures and improved machinery. Population control is another very important way of avoiding famine. In fact, thinking men everywhere have been giving serious thoughts to this problem, and their efforts are likely to case the position to some extent.
But the darkest cloud has its silver lining. It brings into play some of the noblest of human qualities such as fellow-feeling, sympathy and service. Whenever a famine breaks out, people come forward in large numbers for relief work. It does one's heart good to see or read of the great hardships these workers bear with a smiling face for days together to help the famine-striken people.
