The Impacts of Smallpox Vaccination on British India

Analysis of the Ambivalent Impacts of Smallpox Vaccination Campaigns on the Population of British India (1858–1947)

Abstract

The eradication of smallpox in 1980 remains one of the most significant events in the history of global health. Indeed, to this day, it is the only human disease to have been successfully eradicated thanks to medical advances. However, an examination of the measures implemented in British India (1858–1947) to fight the variola virus reveals the ambivalent nature of colonial policies and their considerable impact on societal, cultural, and economic structures.  

This paper explores the dual impact of smallpox vaccination campaigns, by first providing a clear overview of the complex historical and medical background of the subject. Indeed, on one hand, it presents the significant benefits they had on the country’s public health. On the other hand, it also explores the devastating impacts of such measures on India’s cultural heritage and economic prosperity. This research reveals that colonial medical initiatives, which were often presented as acts of benevolence, were in fact frequently used as instruments of control, fostering resistance among the Indian population - resistance that ultimately became an important factor in the country's struggle for independence.  

By addressing all these aspects, this paper provides a thorough assessment of the various measures implemented during the vaccination campaigns in British India. This approach offers an understanding of the ambivalent legacy of colonialism, the ethical dilemmas of public health interventions, and the enduring importance of critical reflection on history to address contemporary global challenges.