CBSE
History-1998 -Set I
Q.5. What were the causes of the sudden and quick collapse of Indian handicrafts industry under the British? What were its consequences? (8 marks)
Ans. The Indian economy was based on handicraft industries and agriculture before the Britishers came in India. Much of the production was based on cottage and small-scale industries. The works of Indian goldsmiths, blacksmiths, cotton weavers, silk weavers were in great demanding not only in India but also abroad .The 18th century witnessed the emergence of industrial revolution in Britain. The industrial revolution created the need for Indian raw material but it ruined the handicraft industry as the British manufactured goods now flooded Indian markets at much lower costs. This was done through the one- way free trade strategy of British in 1813which allowed the invasion of British manufactures in India, in particular cotton textiles .
The Indian goods made with primitive technique s could not compete with goods produced on mass scale by powerful steam -operated machines. The demand for the Indian handicraft was strategically barred by imposing high tariff duties on Indian exports such as manufactured silk and cotton cloth apparels The ruin of Indian Industries, particularly rural handicrafts, proceeded more rapidly once the railways was built .The railways enabled British manufactures to reach and uproot the traditional industries in the remotest villages of the country at far more cheaper prices and attractive colours .The cotton weaving and spinning industry were the worst hit. Silk and woollen textiles fared no better and similar fate overtook the iron, pottery, glass, paper, metal, guns, shipping, tanning and dyeing industries. The modern industries, which were opened in India, were controlled and financed by the Britishers to cater to their own needs. India lacked heavy industries such as metallurgy, machine, fertiliser’s etc. which made Indians import it from abroad. The government did not give any economic support to the development of such industries.
OR
Mention the causes of stagnation and deterioration of Indian agriculture under the British. What was its impact on the Indian population?
Ans. The British rule in India in 19th century witnessed a rapid transformation of India’s economy into a colonial economy whose nature and structure were determined by the needs of the imperial government. The deindustrialization of Indian industries increased the dependence of our population on agriculture with no alternative source of income in sight. The excessive land revenue demands, growth of landlordism, introduction of new land holding policies i.e., ryotwary and permanent settlements and growing impoverishment of Indian peasantry without any government backing resulted in stagnation of Indian Agriculture with extremely low yields per year. The overall agricultural production fell by 14% between 1901-1931. The British replaced the old landlords with new urban-based landlords who had no interest in the land. Their main objective was to collect maximum amount of revenue unmindful of the plight of the peasants.
The British government paid little heed to the agricultural sector and it remained technologically stagnant with no modern equipment or fertilizers. Traditional methods of irrigation further resurrected the growth. The British Economic policy had an adverse effect on the Indian population. British government by ruining the Indian industries increased pressure on agriculture. The artisans and the craftsmen were now forced to settle in villages, which increased the pressure. With increase in the number of the peasants the small land holdings were further divided. The British, instead of giving concessions to the peasants, added to their woes through their policies. Under such policies the peasant was forced to pay taxes as well as subjected to force labour apart from land revenue.
The Government realised land revenue with severity. It went on increasing land revenue considerably but spent very little on the improvement of agriculture. It auctioned the land of the peasant who was unable to pay rent due to him. In order to escape such circumstances, the peasant himself pawned or sold a part of his land to pay rent. The illiterate was further burdened when he borrowed from the moneylenders on high rate of interests. The poverty of the Indians due to economic degeneration found its culmination in a series of famines, which ravaged all parts of India in the second half of the 19th century. India’s economic backwardness was man- made as it had abundant natural resources with a capability of yielding a high degree of prosperity to the people. But this British colony presented a paradox of poor people living in a rich country under imperialism.