A man guards his family from cannibals during the Madras famine in India, 1877.

A man guards his family from cannibals during the Madras famine in India, 1877. Also known as the Great Famine of 1876-1878. 


The Great Famine of 1876-1878 was a period of widespread food shortages and famine that affected much of India. The famine is estimated to have resulted in the deaths of around 5.5 million people, mostly due to starvation and disease. It was caused by a combination of factors, including drought, infestations of locusts, and poor government policies. The famine led to widespread poverty and social upheaval, and it is considered one of the worst humanitarian disasters in India's history.

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