How far was the Industrial Revolution in England responsible for the decline of handicrafts and cottage industries in India?

The Pre-Industrial Indian Economy

Prior to British rule, India possessed a highly developed and diversified economy. Cottage industries were organized through a putting-out system, where merchants supplied raw materials to artisans and collected the finished products. This system fostered regional specialization and produced high-quality goods. Indian textiles, especially muslin and calico, were globally sought after, and India held a significant share of the world textile market.

The Rise of British Industrialization and its Impact

The Industrial Revolution, beginning in the late 18th century, witnessed mechanization in Britain, particularly in the textile industry. This led to:

• Increased Production & Lower Costs: Machines like the spinning jenny and power loom drastically increased production capacity and reduced the cost of manufactured goods.
• Demand for Raw Materials: British industries required vast quantities of raw materials, leading to increased exploitation of Indian resources like cotton.
• Shift in Trade Patterns: Britain began exporting manufactured goods to India while importing raw materials, reversing the traditional trade flow.

British Policies and De-industrialization

The British East India Company and the British government implemented policies that actively undermined Indian handicrafts:

• Discriminatory Tariffs: High tariffs were imposed on Indian textiles imported into Britain, while British textiles were allowed to enter India duty-free. This made Indian goods uncompetitive in the British market and flooded the Indian market with cheaper British products. (e.g., in 1813, the East India Company lost its monopoly on trade with India, but tariffs remained skewed in favor of British goods).
• Destruction of Local Industries: Artisans were often forced to accept contracts at low wages or were driven out of business altogether. The decline of the weaving industry in Bengal is a prime example.
• Suppression of Indigenous Technology: Efforts were made to suppress the development of indigenous technologies that could compete with British industries.
• Land Revenue Policies: High land revenue demands under systems like the Permanent Settlement (1793) forced many artisans to abandon their crafts and take up agriculture to meet revenue obligations.

Extent of Responsibility: A Nuanced View

While the Industrial Revolution was a crucial factor, attributing the decline of Indian handicrafts solely to it would be an oversimplification. Other factors contributed:

• Internal Factors: Lack of innovation and adaptation within the Indian handicraft sector, rigid caste structures hindering mobility, and internal political fragmentation also played a role.
• Competition from Other Regions: Indian textiles faced competition from textiles produced in other parts of the world, though British goods were particularly damaging due to the preferential treatment they received.

However, the systematic and deliberate policies of the British, designed to promote British industrial interests at the expense of Indian industries, were undeniably central to the de-industrialization process. The Industrial Revolution provided the *means* for this exploitation, while British policies provided the *opportunity* and *incentive*.

Pre-Industrial India	Post-Industrial Revolution India (under British Rule)
Exporter of finished goods (textiles, silk)	Importer of finished goods (textiles) & exporter of raw materials (cotton)
Flourishing cottage industries	Decline of handicrafts & rise of unemployment
Regional specialization & high-quality products	Dependence on British manufactured goods