Bengal was one of the most productive regions in the Ganges delta that came under British control in the eighteenth century. The British East India Company consolidated its hold on the region following the Battle of Plassey in 1757 and the Battle of Buxar in 1764 and, by 1793, took complete control of the region. Thus, colonial rule started its journey from Bengal (that is, Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa) in the eastern part of the Indian subcontinent, and its resources were exploited by the British to extend and consolidate their empire. Apart from colonial exploitative pressure, the region experienced several natural calamities, including the inroads of famines and epidemic diseases, that caused unprecedented ravages and torment for the people. This chapter aims to look into the epidemiology of kala-azar in Bengal, the colonial medical intervention to combat it, and the effectiveness of the methods implemented to contain the disease. It also brings into focus how the indigenous people, including medical professionals in particular, responded to the illness and the state's medical measures to manage it. It may not be out of place here to provide a brief note on the area, its people, and the disease environment to have a better understanding of the occurrence of black fever and its containment.

A Peep into the History of Bengal: People and Public Health

Bengal was one of the prosperous and healthiest regions in eastern India, and its prosperity, whether agricultural, commercial, or industrial, even in the early nineteenth century, was widely acclaimed. However, it lost its affluence because of colonial exploitation. The colonial rule brought about certain significant changes in Bengal's economy that severely affected agriculture and manufacturing works, leading to subordination and economic decline.