Introduction
We turn to history to look at an epidemic in 1994 where one of the most prosperous industrial centres of Gujarat, India was impacted by a deadly plague. Misinformation played a huge role here in causing one of the largest post-independence exodus from the city.
People Fled
Newspaper Report: 300,000 flee plague-hit Surat | Source: Sep 24, 1994 The Guardian and The Observer pg. 17
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Improvement
Newspaper Report: Surat situation improving: govt. | Source: Sep 27, 1994 The Times of India pg. 1
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Book
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An excerpt from
Plague, by Dr. Ketan Zaveri, a practicing doctor during the plague. The excerpt details the foul pre-conditions in certain areas in Surat, which tended to be the first sites of infections during the epidemic. It describes the panic and spread of misinformation – such as that the water supply had been poisoned and was causing deaths – during the starting days of the plague. Source:
Jivanshailli(Click on image to enlarge it)Excerpt from Documentary
A clip from Blessed by the plague (Setu Films, 1999), by L. Brunt, A. Bhattacherjee, S. Shanbagh, and S. Dandekar. The excerpt showcases the distress of migrants in Surat at the onset of the Plague.
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Genetically Engineered
A Times of India report, highlighting rumours that the Surat plage was genetically engineered. | Source: Jul 7, 1995 The Times of India pg. 1
Letter
A letter by a concerned reader, in response to the Times of India report on the Plague being genetically engineered. | Source: Jul 27, 1995 The Times of India pg. 10
