A History of Agriculture in India v2.c85.17

v2.c85.17

Famines occur in India from time to time. Hardly two years had passed since Aurangzeb's accession when a famine devastated northern India. Unfavourable seasons and want of rain, combined with war and movements of armies, had made grain very scarce and dear,' states Khafi Khan. 'Many districts lay entirely waste, and crowds of people from all parts made their way to the capital. Every street and bazar of the city was choked with poor helpless people, so that it was difficult for the inhabitants to move about. An Imperial order was issued that in addition to the regular bulghur-khanas, where raw and cooked grain was given away, ten more langer-khanas (houses of free food) should be opened in the city, and twelve bulghur-khanas in the suburbs and among the tombs, and careful men were appointed to superintend them. Instructions were also issued for the amirs to make provision for langer distributions, and orders were given for the remission of taxes on the transport of grain, with the view of favouring the gathering of stores.'³