When the Rains Failed: Droughts in the Medieval Deccan
When the Rains Failed: Droughts in the Medieval Deccan
This morning The New York Times Morning Briefing newsletter reported:
The record-breaking drought, well into its second year, is punishing much of South America, and it provides an alarming glimpse into the future as the effects of climate change become more apparent1.
As California's reservoirs shrink to puddles and Brazil's Amazon rainforest faces its driest spell in decades, it's easy to think we're facing unprecedented challenges. But wind back the clock about 500 years, zoom in on the Deccan plateau of South India, and you'll find a strikingly familiar scene. Severe droughts were reshaping societies, challenging rulers, and leaving lasting marks on the region's history. Sound familiar?
If newspapers had existed in the early 1500s in South India, they’d have reported:
The usually lush, green landscapes of the Deccan plateau are turning brown. Rivers are drying up, crops are withering in the fields, and people are looking anxiously at the sky, praying for rain that refuses to come.
This wasn't just a bad year – it was part of a drought that would reshape societies, challenge rulers, and leave a lasting mark on the region's history.
A History Written in Dry Spells
The 15th and 16th centuries saw some particularly nasty droughts hit the Deccan. We're talking about multi-year dry spells that pushed societies to their limits. As Richard Eaton in his book A Social History of the Deccan quotes researcher Kathleen Morrison’s findings2 that “the most devastating drought-induced famines that struck the Deccan in the Vijayanagara era—those of 1996, 1412-13, 1423-24 and 1471-72 clustered in its middle.”
But how do we know all this? It's not like medieval Indians were posting their weather woes on social media. Instead, we piece together the puzzle from various sources. The 1471-72 drought is particularly well-documented, appearing in both inscriptional evidence and Persian historical accounts like Ferishta's "Tarikh-i Firishta". Royal court chronicles dramatically describe the hardships faced by kingdoms. Travelers' accounts paint vivid pictures of parched landscapes. Archaeologists uncover evidence of abandoned settlements and changes in crop patterns. These varied sources - from temple inscriptions to royal records and travelogues - give us a multi-faceted view of how these climate events impacted Deccan society.
When the Going Got Tough
So, what happened when the rains failed to show up? In short: nothing good. Crops withered in the fields, leading to widespread food shortages. Rivers and wells dried up, making even basic survival a challenge. In the worst cases, famine stalked the land. People abandoned their homes, searching for better prospects elsewhere.
The economy took a massive hit. With less food to go around, prices skyrocketed. Trade networks that had flourished in good times now struggled. The impact rippled through society, from the poorest farmer to the wealthiest merchant.
Rulers to the Rescue (Sometimes)
The various dynasties ruling the Deccan during this period – from the Bahmani Sultanate to the Vijayanagara Empire and later Deccan Sultanates – couldn't just sit back and watch disaster unfold. Their power and legitimacy were on the line.
Many rulers stepped up with relief measures. They'd often start by cutting taxes in the hardest-hit areas – a move that probably made them popular, even if it drained the royal coffers. Some went further, opening up royal granaries to distribute stored grain to the hungry masses.
But the real long-term impact came from infrastructure projects. Rulers invested heavily in building and maintaining water storage structures. Tanks, reservoirs, and elaborate step-wells started dotting the landscape. These weren't just vanity projects – they were lifelines for communities during dry spells.
Adapting to Survive
It wasn't just the rulers making changes. Farmers, always at the mercy of the rain gods, got creative. They started experimenting with drought-resistant crop varieties and diversified what they grew. The logic was simple: if one crop failed, maybe another would survive.
Communities also adapted their social and religious practices. Temples became centers not just for worship, but for organizing relief efforts. New rituals and deities associated with rain and water gained popularity. It's fascinating to see how spiritual beliefs and practical needs intertwined in response to environmental challenges.
A Legacy of Resilience
Here's the thing: while the droughts of the 15th and 16th centuries were severe, they weren't entirely new experiences for the people of the Deccan. Inscriptions and texts from earlier centuries tell us that drought has been a recurring challenge in the region for over a millennium.
Each generation learned from the past, building on age-old wisdom to face new challenges. The elaborate water management systems of the Vijayanagara period, for instance, drew inspiration from techniques developed by earlier dynasties like the Chalukyas and Hoysalas.
This long history of dealing with drought created a culture of resilience. Sure, each dry spell brought hardship, but it also reinforced the importance of preparation and adaptation. The lessons learned during these tough times shaped everything from agricultural practices to architecture, leaving a lasting impact on the region's culture and landscape.
From Medieval Wisdom to Modern Challenges
As we grapple with droughts in California, Brazil, and yes, even in 21st century India, it's worth looking back at how our ancestors handled similar crises. The irony? Many of the solutions they developed are still relevant today.
Take India, for instance. Despite technological advances, the country's agriculture still heavily relies on monsoon rains, much like it did centuries ago. The severe droughts of 1965-67, 1972, and more recently in 2015-18, echo the challenges faced in medieval times. Yet, the emphasis on water conservation, building reservoirs, and diversifying crops – all strategies honed during historical droughts – remain crucial today.
However, there's often a disconnect between this inherited wisdom and modern practices. While we have this wealth of drought management knowledge, we frequently fail to implement it effectively. Ancient step-wells lie neglected, traditional water harvesting techniques are forgotten, and unsustainable agricultural practices strain water resources.
But Wait There Might Be Hope
But not everyone has forgotten these lessons. In a fascinating blend of historical wisdom and modern application, some individuals are revisiting age-old techniques to address contemporary water scarcity issues. One such person is Rajendra Singh, often called the "Waterman of India."
Singh's work in Rajasthan, a state known for its arid climate, bears a striking resemblance to the efforts of medieval rulers and communities in the Deccan. Like those historical figures, Singh recognized the critical importance of local water management. His approach centers on reviving and adapting traditional water harvesting methods, particularly the use of 'johads' - small earthen check dams that collect and store rainwater.
As the Stockholm Water Prize3 wrote of him
The methods used by Mr Singh are modernisations of traditional Indian ways of collecting and storing rainwater, dating back thousands of years. The methods fell out of use during British colonial rule, but have now brought water back to the driest state in one of the world’s most populous nations, thanks to the “Water man of India” and his colleagues.
What's particularly noteworthy is Singh's emphasis on community involvement. Much like how medieval communities rallied around water conservation efforts, Singh teaches local villagers to build and maintain these structures themselves. This grassroots approach has led to the revival of over 1,000 villages and the resurrection of five rivers that had run dry - a testament to the power of combining historical knowledge with community action.
Singh's work isn't presented here as a universal solution, but rather as an example of how historical wisdom can inform current practices. It demonstrates that the principles of water management developed over centuries in drought-prone regions like the Deccan still hold relevance today. Whether it's the medieval rulers investing in tanks and reservoirs or modern communities building johads, the underlying principle remains the same: local, community-driven water conservation is key to resilience against drought.
In this light, the droughts of medieval Deccan offer more than just a glimpse into history. They provide a valuable lesson in adaptation, community action, and the timeless importance of living in harmony with our environment. As we stand at the crossroads of climate change and water scarcity, these centuries-old strategies, when adapted thoughtfully to our modern context, might just show us a way forward.
The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/19/world/americas/south-america-drought-amazon-river.html
Kathleen D. Morrison, “Naturalizing Disaster: from Drought to Famine in Southern India” in Environmental Disaster and the Archeology of Human Response, ed. Garth Bawden and Richard M. Reycraft (Albuquerque, 2000), 30.
The Stockholm Water Prize 2015 Rajendra Singh