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FAMINES IN THE INDIAN SUBCONTINENT, 1500 to 1767
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1578 (a): Bikaner1578 map
Documented causes: unspecified
Documented effects: official relief centres

Shalin Jain, "Interaction with The 'Lords': The Jain Community and the Mughal Royalty under Akbar" (in "Social Scientist", Vol. 40, No. 3-4, March-April 2012)
The Jain annals portray Karamchandra Bachhawat as second in command to Rao Rai Singh and many a time the minister's image dominates that of the king. Karamchandra is shown as a diplomat whose personality was crucial for the survival of the ruling family of Bikaner. ... At the time of the great famine of 1578, he opened alms houses and hospitals for the poor and the sick continuously for thirteen months."
[Source: Jayasoma, "Karamchandvanshholkirlankam Kavyam", Verses 297-313. pp. 64. 66.]
Kailash Chand Jain "Jainism in Rajasthan" (1963)
p223: "Karmachandra rendered valuable services to his community and religion. He led many Samghas to the holy places. In 1555 A.D., he celebrated the official entry of Jinachandrasüri at Bikaner with great rejoicings. During the famine of 1578 A.D, he made every endeavour to relieve the starving population by setting up depots for the free distribution of grain."

a contrast in Sindh

Sir H.M. Elliot (compiler) "The history of India, as told by its own historians" (vol. 1, 1867)
p279: [extract from the "Tarikh-i-Tahiri", concerning the miserly and cruel Sindhi ruler Mirza Muhammad Baki (aka Baqi) circa 1580] "Seated in the audience-tent, hardly a moment passed, but he said to his nobles: 'Bring me gold, bring me grain; let this be your sole occupation, for these form the basis of power.' The privations which he had formerly endured led him to heap treasure upon treasure, and grain upon grain. Not a corner of the citadel of Thatta but was filled with rice. Often the grain got clotted, and the heat arising therefrom occasioned spontaneous combustion, but the Mirza would not have it removed from the fort, nor allow it to be given away."
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