AN India Office official interviewed by Reuter in London on Friday night [April 12] rejected the optimism of President Truman and his Secretary for Agriculture, Mr. Clinton P. Anderson about India’s improved food prospects and the next 90 days seeing the worst of the world crisis. He said: “Whatever has been said in America has been said because of a distorted idea of the general situation in India. There has been some rain, but the gap has been by no means bridged. India is facing starvation and it is not a question of whether it can be averted, but how many millions [will die].

“Rain in the Punjab from November to March was 2.8 inches, as compared with the normal rainfall of 6.3 inches and the rainfall in the United Provinces was about three inches as compared with the normal 5.9. Any benefits to be derived from this will not shape for at least six months….

“India asked the Combined Food Control for at least 2,000,000 tons of foodgrains to tide her over during the first six months of this year, but it was decided to let her have only 60 per cent of this in future….”

Published in Dawn, April 14th, 2021