Pandemics, Science And Altruism In Colonial Hyderabad
A brief review of major pandemics worldwide reveals that the first significant cholera outbreak in British India began in 1817, with initial cases reported in Bengal. This outbreak persisted until 1824. Subsequently, a second wave emerged in 1826, continuing until 1837 and affecting various countries. Following this, the third pandemic, lasting from 1846 to 1860, was reported in Makkah and eventually spread to other regions. Meanwhile, the fourth wave occurred from 1863 to 1875, resulting in high mortality rates, particularly in Bengal, the Ganges delta, and beyond. In the years that followed, the fifth cholera wave lasted from 1881 to 1896, impacting Europe, the Far East, the Middle East and the Americas. Finally, the sixth cholera epidemic spanned from 1899 to 1923, but had a diminished impact on European cities.
Notably, the sixth wave (1899–1923) saw considerably less human losses compared to previous pandemics, such as cholera and plague. Most physicians and healthcare providers agree that this reduction was due to significant advancements in health, hygiene, municipal services, and medical training. Another common observation reveals that people initially denied the existence of the pandemics, followed by self-blame, and finally attributing the crises to divine anger or unseen forces.
Some, however, took the situation seriously: employing scientific methods and skills to combat and contain the diseases. This was a remarkable example of human resilience and trust in their abilities and knowledge.
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