Question

Write a short note/Explain the concept:

British Factory

Answer 1

1. The company decided to build their ‘factories’ (emporiums – a place where goods are bought, stored and sold.) in India. The staff of the factories were called ‘factors’.
2. In the latter half of the 17^th century, the company operated from Surat and Chennai (Madras). The eastern coast, Odisha, Bengal in India and other eastern countries were under the company’s jurisdiction.
3. The Surat factory staff comprised of an accountant, an in-charge of the stores, a treasurer, some factors and clerks. In addition there was a Christian priest, a surgeon and his assistant, cooks, Company President’s personal servants and a trumpet blower.
4. The British used to acquire large plots of land for their factories. These plots were used to build warehouses, residential quarters and offices were built on these plots. The main building of the factory carried ‘Union Jack’. The meals provided to the staff included bread, meat, rice, khichadi of pulses and rice, pickles, etc. Company had created beautiful gardens for the benefit of the staff at Surat, Karwar, Machilipatnam, Petapuli, Chennai and Mumbai.