Model Answer
0 min readIntroduction
Prior to British rule, India possessed a globally renowned handicraft industry, celebrated for its high quality and intricate designs. These industries contributed significantly to India’s economic prosperity and foreign trade. However, the arrival of the British East India Company marked a turning point, initiating a systematic decline of these traditional crafts. This decline wasn’t a sudden event but a gradual process driven by a complex interplay of factors, ranging from discriminatory policies to the introduction of modern industrial production, transforming India from an exporter to an importer of manufactured goods.
Political and Administrative Factors
The British East India Company and later the British Crown actively pursued policies that undermined Indian handicrafts:
- Discriminatory Tariffs: Heavy tariffs were imposed on Indian exports to Britain, while British goods were allowed into India with minimal or no duties. This made Indian products uncompetitive in international markets.
- Destruction of Local Industries: The Company deliberately destroyed thriving Indian industries, like textiles, to create a market for British manufactured goods. Accounts from the 18th and 19th centuries detail the breaking of looms and the forced unemployment of weavers.
- Grant of Monopolies: The Company granted monopolies to its own agents and favored merchants, stifling competition and hindering the growth of indigenous industries.
- Political Instability: Frequent wars and political instability under British rule disrupted trade routes and supply chains, impacting the handicraft sector.
Economic Factors
British economic policies fundamentally altered the economic landscape of India, leading to the decline of handicrafts:
- De-industrialization: The influx of cheaper, machine-made British goods flooded the Indian market, displacing traditional artisans. This process of de-industrialization led to widespread unemployment and poverty.
- Land Revenue Policies: High land revenue demands forced artisans to abandon their crafts and take up agriculture to meet revenue obligations. The Permanent Settlement (1793) and Ryotwari System exacerbated this trend.
- Commercialization of Agriculture: The emphasis on cash crops like indigo and opium, driven by British demand, diverted resources and labor away from handicrafts.
- Drain of Wealth: The systematic transfer of wealth from India to Britain, through salaries, pensions, and profits, reduced the capital available for investment in Indian industries. Dadabhai Naoroji’s ‘Drain Theory’ highlighted this aspect.
Technological Factors
The introduction of modern technology by the British, while representing progress, had a detrimental effect on Indian handicrafts:
- Mechanized Production: The Industrial Revolution in Britain led to the mass production of goods at lower costs. Indian artisans, using traditional methods, could not compete with this efficiency.
- Lack of Modernization: Indian artisans lacked access to modern technology and capital to upgrade their production methods. The British actively discouraged the development of modern industries in India to protect their own interests.
- Decline in Skill Transmission: As demand for traditional crafts declined, the traditional apprenticeship system suffered, leading to a loss of skills and knowledge.
Regional Variations: The impact of these factors varied across regions. For example, the textile industry in Bengal and Gujarat suffered significantly, while some crafts like carpet weaving in Kashmir were relatively less affected due to continued demand from the elite.
| Craft | Region Affected | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Textiles | Bengal, Gujarat, Madras | Severe decline due to competition from British textiles |
| Metalwork | Bihar, Orissa | Reduced demand due to cheaper British metal goods |
| Shipbuilding | Coastal regions (Bombay, Bengal) | Complete collapse due to discriminatory policies |
Conclusion
The decline of handicrafts during British rule was a multifaceted process driven by a combination of exploitative political policies, disruptive economic changes, and the impact of technological advancements. This decline had devastating consequences for the Indian economy, leading to widespread unemployment, poverty, and the erosion of traditional skills. The legacy of this de-industrialization continues to shape India’s economic landscape even today, highlighting the need for policies that promote and preserve traditional industries alongside modern manufacturing.
Answer Length
This is a comprehensive model answer for learning purposes and may exceed the word limit. In the exam, always adhere to the prescribed word count.