China’s Great Famine (1959-1961): Need for Open Discussion
No matter how much information or analysis is added, the undeniable truth remains: Mao’s misguided policies led to the worst famine in human history. Surprisingly, unlike other major famines of the 20th century, such as those in Ukraine and Bengal, China has never openly discussed the causes and responsibility for the depth and duration of its famine. Even Western scholars and politicians have largely overlooked it. There’s a clear need for moral examination and historical closure. Eventually, China will have to confront the causes and consequences of this tragedy, which surpasses the toll of all other famines the country has faced in the past two centuries.
China’s Great Famine (1959-1961)
Around forty years ago, China faced the world’s biggest famine. It happened from around 1959 to 1961, and sadly, about 30 million Chinese people died because of it. Additionally, nearly the same number of births didn’t happen or were delayed. The famine was mostly caused by ideological reasons. It’s considered as significant as the two world wars in terms of public deaths caused by humans, according to Richard Rhodes, an expert.
Now, after two generations, China has become economically successful and can provide enough food. In this article, we take a look at a detailed explanation of China’s Great Famine (1959-1961).
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