Lower U-boat losses and the absence of a major Indian Ocean war leave more merchant ships on their prewar routes. That capacity makes it easier to move food by sea from Indian regions with surpluses to Bengal during crisis. This interpretation does not reduce the famine to shipping alone or excuse colonial governance. Deeper responsibility lies with generations of authorities that failed to build rail connections capable of moving supplies across India without depending on scarce coastal shipping.
Notable Point · 2:52:33-2:54:25
Could safer shipping alter the Bengal famine?
Lower Atlantic losses and a safer Indian Ocean could preserve coastal food transport, though the deeper infrastructure failure remains colonial.