Public Health and the Pandemic in Colonial Bengal

An Analysis of the Spanish Influenza (1918-1920).
1. Auflage 2025
ISBN: 978-1-041-10752-1
Verlag: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Buch, Englisch, 242 Seiten, Format (B × H): 156 mm x 234 mm

Reihe: Routledge Studies in the Modern History of Asia

Public Health and the Pandemic in Colonial Bengal examines the interplay between colonial governance and public health crises by focusing on the effects of the 1918–19 Spanish Influenza pandemic in Bengal.

During the time of the pandemic, Bengal was a region of stark contrasts—rich in culture and intellectual thought yet marred by deep social and economic disparities. The outbreak of Spanish Influenza coincided with a turbulent period in Bengal’s history. The region was not only grappling with the effects of World War I and the challenges of colonial rule but also undergoing significant political and social changes. The pandemic added a complex layer to this already dynamic historical context. Based on archival material, newspapers, and public health records, the book unveils how colonial authorities tried to suppress the crisis and how local communities protested against colonial brutality. With a unique emphasis on the context of colonial Bengal, the author highlights the socio-economic disparities exacerbated by colonial rule.

The study contributes to the broader discourse on health crises in colonial settings, offering insights into the historical roots of public health in India. It provides essential insights into the medical, social, and economic reactions to both current and future health emergencies and will be of interest to researchers in the fields of history, including medical history, public health, sociology and medical anthropology, and political science and law.

Zielgruppe

Postgraduate

Autoren/Hrsg.

Basu, Saumitra

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Weltgeschichte & Geschichte einzelner Länder und Gebietsräume Geschichte einzelner Länder Asiatische Geschichte
• Sozialwissenschaften Ethnologie | Volkskunde Volkskunde Historische & Regionale Volkskunde

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Introduction

Chapter I: Calcutta Under Siege: Spanish Influenza in Calcutta and Beyond

Chapter II: From Calamity to Catastrophe: Spanish Influenza in Other Districts of Colonial Bengal

Chapter III: When Famine Met the Spanish Influenza

Chapter IV: Diseases, Medicine and Colonialism: Influenza and The Politics of Imperialism

Chapter V: Long-Term Consequences and Epidemiological Lessons from the 1918-19

Influenza Pandemic

Chapter VI: Summary and Conclusion

Über Autor(innen)

Saumitra Basu is an independent researcher in the history of science and history of medicine. He has successfully completed three projects on the history of science as a (postdoctoral) research associate in the Indian National Science Academy (INSA), New Delhi. He is the recipient of different national and international fellowships, including Visiting Fellowship at the Oxford Institute of Ageing, Oxford, UK.