Manchester Comes to India

4.3.3 Manchester Comes to India

Description

Quick Overview

The decline of Indian textile exports in the 19th century due to competition from British industrialization and Manchester's cotton goods.

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The section outlines the change in textiles from India, detailing the rise of British cotton industries, their impact on Indian exports, and the introduction of Manchester textiles into local markets that contributed to the decline of Indian textile production.

Detailed

Manchester Comes to India

In the late 18th century, India was known for its high-quality textiles, dominating global trade. However, by the early 19th century, Indian textile exports faced significant challenges due to competition from the burgeoning cotton industries in England, particularly Manchester.

Key Points Covered

  1. Decline in Indian Textile Exports: The share of Indian piece-goods in exports plummeted from 33% in 1811-12 to 3% by1850-51. The rapid industrialization in Britain, particularly in Manchester, led to cheaper, machine-produced textiles that flooded Indian markets.
  2. Government Pressures: British industrialists pressured the East India Company to impose duties on Indian textiles, enabling local Manchester textiles to dominate without facing competition.
  3. Impact on Indian Weavers: The influx of British textiles resulted in a dual crisis for Indian weavers; a collapse in their export markets and an over-saturated local market made it difficult for them to survive economically. Reports from various regions indicated significant declines in weaving activities, with many weavers migrating or ceasing operations altogether.
  4. Strategic Shifts in Supply: Weavers also faced challenges in sourcing quality raw cotton following the American Civil War, which led to increased prices that made their production unfeasible. Subsequently, local factories began producing goods that further undermined traditional handloom weaving.

This section critically examines how British industrialization reshaped the textile industry in India, driving local artisans into economic distress and altering traditional trade dynamics.

Key Concepts

  • Decline of Exports: The significant drop in Indian textile exports due to competition from British industries.

  • Role of the East India Company: How the Company controlled the weavers and suppressed local industries.

  • Impact on Weavers: The socioeconomic decline faced by Indian weavers due to the overwhelming competition.

Memory Aids

🎵 Rhymes Time

  • Woven fine to shift and twine, now downcast by the cotton line.

📖 Fascinating Stories

  • Once upon a time, Indian weavers spun dreams with their threads, but alas, the machines rolled in, leaving their patterns in the dust.

🧠 Other Memory Gems

  • DUMP - Decline, Unfavorable trade, Manchester textiles, and Prices.

🎯 Super Acronyms

FORT - Finance, Orders, Raw materials, Trade.

Examples

  • The shift from high-quality Indian textiles to cheaper machine-produced textiles from Manchester demonstrates significant changes in global trade dynamics.

  • Reports of weavers migrating to other regions in search of work illustrate the personal costs of industrial competition.

Glossary of Terms

  • Term: East India Company

    Definition:

    A trading company that played a crucial role in establishing British colonial rule in India.

  • Term: Textiles

    Definition:

    Cloth items produced in various forms, including woven, knitted, etc.

  • Term: Gomastha

    Definition:

    A paid supervisor appointed by the East India Company to manage weavers.