Roadmap for Answer Writing
Introduction
- Context: Introduce the Industrial Revolution in England (late 18th century) and its global impact.
- Thesis Statement: Assert that the Industrial Revolution was a significant factor in the decline of handicrafts and cottage industries in India, compounded by various colonial policies and economic changes.
Section 1: Direct Impact of the Industrial Revolution
A. Introduction of Machine-Made Goods
- Explanation: Discuss how machine-made textiles from England replaced handmade Indian goods.
- Fact: By the 1830s, British cotton textiles flooded Indian markets, causing the collapse of India’s cotton weaving industry (source: Economic History Review).
B. Decline in Export of Indian Textiles
- Explanation: Highlight the decline in Indian textile exports due to competition.
- Fact: The collapse of the Bengal Muslin industry, once famous for its fine fabric, illustrates this decline (source: Asian Studies Review).
C. Exploitative Trade Policies
- Explanation: Examine British tariffs on Indian textiles.
- Fact: Indian cotton textiles faced tariffs as high as 70-80%, while British goods faced no such restrictions (source: Journal of Economic Perspectives).
Section 2: Economic Transformation Under British Rule
A. Shift to Raw Material Export
- Explanation: Describe how India became a supplier of raw materials for British factories.
- Fact: Indian raw cotton exports increased by over 300% during the mid-19th century, while local weavers faced rising raw material prices (source: India’s Economic History).
B. Technological Disparity
- Explanation: Discuss the technological gap between Indian handlooms and British machinery.
- Fact: British power looms produced textiles rapidly, making Indian handlooms uncompetitive (source: Indian Economic Review).
Section 3: Broader Economic and Social Factors
A. Colonial Revenue Systems
- Explanation: Analyze how British land revenue systems affected artisans.
- Fact: The Permanent Settlement in Bengal imposed high land taxes, pushing weavers to abandon their trade (source: Economic History of Bengal).
B. Impact of Railways
- Explanation: Discuss the role of railways in facilitating British goods.
- Fact: By 1853, British goods reached even remote villages, leading to a decline in local handicrafts (source: Indian Transport History).
C. Famine and Economic Strain
- Explanation: Examine how famines during British rule weakened local industries.
- Fact: The Great Famine of 1876-78 in Madras and Bombay displaced many weavers and artisans (source: Historical Studies on Famines in India).
Conclusion
- Summary: Recap the Industrial Revolution’s role in the decline of handicrafts and cottage industries in India, emphasizing the interplay of direct impacts and broader socio-economic factors.
- Final Thought: Conclude that the Industrial Revolution, while a primary factor, was part of a larger narrative of colonial exploitation that devastated India’s traditional crafts and artisan communities.
Model Answer
Introduction
The Industrial Revolution in England significantly contributed to the decline of handicrafts and cottage industries in India, fundamentally altering the economic landscape of the subcontinent.
Introduction of Machine-Made Goods
The arrival of machine-made textiles from England drastically reduced production costs, leading to the replacement of traditional Indian handmade goods. By the 1830s, British cotton textiles flooded Indian markets, resulting in the collapse of India’s once-thriving cotton weaving industry. This shift marked a significant setback for local artisans who could not compete with the cheaper, machine-produced alternatives.
Decline in Export of Indian Textiles
India’s textile exports, highly sought after in Europe, plummeted due to the competition from British goods. The collapse of the Bengal Muslin industry, renowned for its fine fabric, exemplifies this decline, as British textiles dominated the market.
Exploitative Trade Policies
British trade policies imposed heavy tariffs on Indian textiles, making it nearly impossible for them to compete globally. Indian cotton textiles faced tariffs as high as 70-80%, while British goods faced no such restrictions, further crippling local industry.
Shift to Raw Material Export
Under British rule, India was transformed into a supplier of raw materials, primarily cotton, for British factories. In the mid-19th century, Indian raw cotton exports increased by over 300%, while local weavers struggled with rising raw material prices.
Technological Disparity
Indian cottage industries, reliant on handlooms, could not compete with advanced British machinery. While British power looms produced textiles rapidly, Indian handlooms remained labor-intensive, rendering local products uncompetitive.
Conclusion
In summary, the Industrial Revolution in England was a primary driver behind the decline of handicrafts and cottage industries in India, exacerbated by exploitative colonial policies, technological disparities, and changing consumer preferences. As British industries flourished, India’s artisan communities faced devastating socio-economic consequences, leading to widespread impoverishment and the erosion of traditional crafts.