How India's food shortage enriched US libraries

India, grappling with severe food shortages in the 1950s and 1960s, became one of the largest recipients of this aid. The local currency generated through these transactions was later made available to participating US universities at minimal cost. These funds were then used to purchase books, periodicals, phonograph records, and other media in Indian languages, significantly enriching the collections of over 20 US universities, including the University of Chicago.