Korangi is a port in Godhavari district.The British operated weekly steamers from Korangi and Kakinada to Rangoon,carrying indentured labour .The rice fields of Burma,and its railways were the creations of 'coranghees'-obedient undemanding,cheap,hard working Telugu speaking labour recruited from coastal Andhra,through meisthries and kanganis. They cleared forests,created rice fields,worked the rice mills,transported rice,cleaned the streets-all of which were low paid lowly jobs, which the Burmese would not do.
The rubber plantations in Malaysia,increased from a mere 350acres to 2 million acres.Its sugar,tea,coffee and oil palm plantations thrived on labour from the Madras presidency,75% of whom were from coastal Andhra.Migration analysts speak of 'push' and 'pull' factors as the cause of migration-pushed out by poverty and pulled by oppotunities!! Women followed as cooks,domestic workers and prostitutes.Poverty! in the fertile soils of coastal Andhra!!,where it requires no more than throwing a fistful of grain,for it to grow and yield a plentiful harvest?!!
1876-1878 were called the years of 'The Great Famine'.Monsoon had failed for two successive years.There was a food famine.and a money famine.The peasant had no money to buy food,as he had to pay tax.The farmer could not grow food,as he was taxed and could not invest in land.What was grown was transported to England.An insensitive Lytton-the butcher,the then viceroy( a Malthusian,who believed population had grown to unsustainable levels,and nature had its ways of culling through disease and famine),was relentless with his taxes,as he needed the money for his Afghan venture!.The severity of famine,compounded by cholera ,took a toll of lives said to be anywhere between 5 to 10 millions,comparable only to Nazi Germany.
Migration-seasonal and permanent- presented itself as a choice for these peasants migrating to Burma,some of whom returned with money and exposure and became social activists.When many went to Burma and Malaysia,some migrated inlands southwards. .Perhaps that is where our roots are-in the great famine of the British Raj!A very real possibility,much as we would like to fantasise a heroic,historic princely lineage linking us to Vijayanagar!My heart goes out to those vagrants wandering looking for food source!The western ghats and its foothills with its well-fed plentiful rabbits and deer population must have been a refuge for these hunting food-gatherers with their dogs!
On this 15th of Aug,I fervently hope there will not be another such calamity faced in the British Raj!
On this 15th of Aug,I fervently hope there will not be another such calamity faced in the British Raj!
