Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 and its lessons.

       

        Please stay at home and Don't Panic. 
        Please stay at home and Don't Panic.

Plague Check Post set up by Karachi Plague Committee,India,1897.

The Bubonic Plague, Year 1896, The Bombay Presidency, British India.

Today, it is a virus named Noval Corona (COVID-19). In the year 1886, it was a bacterium named Yersinia pestis carried by rodents. Bubonic plague also originated from Western Yunnan in China! British India had huge opium trade from China. Flea-infested rodents also sailed to Bombay in British opium merchant ships from China. 

British didn’t want to hinder the thriving opium trade in any way. No lockdowns were ordered and the ports remained fully functional till it was too late. Bubonic plague rapidly spread in Bombay. Quickly it infected Bangal, Punjab, United Provinces and later to Burma. By 1901, four lakh Indians succumbed to the plague and till 1905 numbers of dead rose to ten lakh.

 

Quarantine Camps, Karachi,1897.

Hastily Drafted Law

        

Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 was a hastily drafted law by colonial rulers, for control of already widespread bubonic plague in Bombay Presidency in the year 1896. It contains sweeping powers for the government. Section 2 reads as under-

“ 2. Power to take special measures and prescribe regulations as to dangerous epidemic diseases.- (1) When at any time the [State Government] is satisfied that  [the State] or any part thereof is visited by, or threatened with, an outbreak of any dangerous epidemic diseases, the [State Government], if [it] thinks that the ordinary provisions of the law for the time being in force are insufficient for the purpose, may take, or require or empower any person to take, such measurers and, by public notice, prescribe such temporary regulations to be observed by the public or by any person or class of persons as [it] shall deem necessary to prevent the outbreak of such disease or the spread thereof, and may determine in what manner and by whom any expenses incurred (including compensation if any) shall be defrayed.”

By all legislative standards this act is classic piece of ‘positive law theory’. It gives widest range of power to the ruler backed by sanctions. Sanctions are in the form of jail of six months or fine of one thousand rupees, or with both.

British implemented this act in most brutal manner. This law gives all and any power to the state government to prevent the spread of epidemic, if it is satisfied that the state is threatened with the outbreak of any dangerous epidemic. This Act gives drastic powers to examine and detain, search and segregate people. To ensure harsh implementation, only white soldiers were assigned plague duty. The president of the Plague Relief Committee, W.C. Rand and Lt. C.E. Ayerst of the Commissariat Department despite of their genuine intentions to prevent spread of plague drew strongest criticism. Brutality by Rand and Ayerst led to further chaos, people started panicking and great number of them fled from Bombay, taking the plague with them.

 Bal Gangadhar Tilak in his paper Kesari criticized British administration severely for the brutal steps and indignities done on the native people for the ruthless implementation of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 which ultimately inspired Chaphekar brothers from Pune to take revenge. On 22nd June 1897, three Chaphekar brothers shot dead Rand and Ayerst as a revenge of indignity and humiliation to people of Pune during prevention of plague. Later Tilak also faced trial on sedition charges.

A female plague patient, Karachi, 1897

The Cure from Russia

  

A Russian bacteriologist Waldemar Haffkine was employed by the British government to develop vaccine against bubonic plague. Haffkine took three months to start with human trials of his new invention. On 10^th January 1897, he conducted first human trials on himself and later on volunteers from Byculla jail. Vaccine was a success and ultimately helped the government to control the plague. 

Doctor treating a plague patient, Karachi,India,1897.

Lessons from Plague Crisis of 1896-97

Initially the British were more interested in continuing opium trade from China than in prevention of epidemic. No immediate lockdowns were ordered. Lack of lockdowns further spread the disease beyond the boundaries of state. 

Medical Officer Examining a ship's crew for bubonic plague on arrival in the Thames,1905

Public health system was not prepared to face any epidemic. People were also not prepared to face such existential crisis. Social security was non-existent. Many people died with hunger and deprivation than plague. Hastily drafted Epidemic Disease Act of 1897 and the brutal measures of its implementation by the colonial government were not sufficient in controlling and curbing bubonic plague and death of millions. People panicked and whole idea became counterproductive.

Karachi was placed in quarantine in 1882 during outbreak of bubonic plague.

Resurrection of a colonial law should be made with more suitable amendments to cater the needs of present day scenario. We are a welfare nation now and along with century old ‘positive law backed by sanctions’, we need more welfare action, informed lockdowns, better health infrastructure, social and food security to tackle the present challenge.   

        Please stay at home and Don't Panic. 

        Please stay at home and Don't Panic.

Kartikey