Discuss the plight of the Indian weavers with the advent of the East India company.
The textile trade in India continued for some time even after the advent of the East India Company in the 1760s and 1770s.The scene changed when the East India Company established political power.
The East India Company asserted a monopoly right to trade. It developed a system of management and control that eliminated competition and controlled costs. The company through its authority was able to ensure regular supplies of cotton and silk goods.
The Company eliminated the existing traders and brokers in the cloth trade. It established direct control over the weavers. It appointed a paid servant called the gomastha to supervise weavers, collect supplies, and examine the quality of cloth. The Company prevented its weavers from dealing with other buyers by paying them advances.
The village weavers who used to cultivate their small pieces of land and weave during their leisure time now took to weaving as their full time job. All the members of the family were involved in weaving. Soon problems between the supervisors and the weavers set in. Outsiders were appointed as supervisors.
As the East India Company was the sole trader, the weavers had to be satisfied with whatever price the company gave, even if it was very low. Weavers along with the village traders revolted, opposing the Company and its officials.
Many weavers refused the loans offered by the Company, closed their workshops and went back to farming.
The 19th century brought more problems for the Indian weavers.
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Why in Victorian Britain, the upper classes preferred things produced by hand ? Give three reasons. (CBSE Sept. 2010)
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Or
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Which pre-colonial port connected India to the Gulf countries and the Red Sea ports ? [CBSE Sept. 2010, 2011]
“By the 1860s Indian weavers failed to get sufficient supply of raw cotton of good quality”. Give reason.
What technological change helped in improving production of India industry during the 20th century ?
Write True or False against each statement:
(a) At the end of the 19th century, 80 per cent of the total workforce in Europe was employed in the technologically advanced industrial sector.
(b) The international market for textiles was dominated by India till the eighteenth century.
(c) The American Civil War resulted in the reduction of cotton exports from India.
(d) The introduction of the fly shuttle enabled the handloom workers to improve their productivity.
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Or
How did the poor peasants and artisans benefit during the proto-industrialisation phase? [CBSE 2011]
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Name the provinces where most of the large-scale industries were located during the colonial period.
When Indian manufacturers advertised, the nationalist message was clear and loud."What was the message ?
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When Manchester industrialists began selling cloth in India, they put labels with pictures on the cloth bundles. Why did they do so ? Explain.
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“Under the colonial era the Indian merchants were discriminated and space within which Indian merchants could function became increasingly limited’. Justify.
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Why did the industrial production in India increase during the First World War ? [CBSE Sept. 2011]
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Write a short note on the development of factories in India.
Or
Explain the growth of factories in India.
”Before establishing political power in Bengal and Carnatic in the 1760 and 1770s, the East India Company had found it difficult to ensure a regular supply of goods for export. Give reasons.
What is the importance of advertisement? How advertisement was used by the Britishers to expand the market for their products?
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Explain the following :
(a) Woman workers in Britain attacked the Spinning Jenny. [CBSE Sept. 2011]
(b) In the seventeenth century, merchants from towns In Europe began employing peasants and artisans within the villages.
(c) The port of Surat declined by the end of the eighteenth century.
(d) The East India Company appointed Gomasthas to supervise the weavers in India. [CBSE Sept. 2011]