Question

“Just as manufacturing boomed in Britain, traditional exports of cotton and silk manufactures from India declined.” Derive the reason for the given statement.

Answer 1

• Under British rule, India experienced deindustrialization, leading to the decline of traditional industries such as handloom weaving and crafts.
• As these industries weakened, many indigenous urban centers that depended on them began to deteriorate.
• When the British took over Indian states, towns like Thanjavur, Dhaka, and Murshidabad lost their royal courts, which had supported artisans, traders, and local economies.
• With the collapse of industries and shrinking urban employment, many people were forced to return to agriculture for their livelihood.