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Question 6.
“The traditional handicrafts industries were ruined under the British rule.” Do you agree with this view? Give reasons in support of your answer.
Yes, I agree with this view. The traditional handicrafts industries in India were severely ruined during British rule due to several economic and political reasons.
One major reason was the discriminatory trade policies of the British government. Indian handicraft goods faced heavy duties in British markets, while British machine-made goods were allowed to enter India at very low or no duties. This made Indian products expensive and uncompetitive.
Another important factor was the flooding of Indian markets with cheap machine-made goods produced after the Industrial Revolution in Britain. These goods were cheaper and produced in large quantities, leading to a sharp fall in demand for Indian handmade products.
The loss of royal patronage also contributed to the decline of handicrafts. Earlier, Indian rulers and courts supported artisans, but with the collapse of Indian kingdoms under British rule, this support disappeared.
Moreover, the British government did not provide any protection or support to Indian handicrafts. Instead, India was reduced to a supplier of raw materials and a market for British manufactured goods.
In conclusion, British economic policies led to the systematic destruction of Indian handicrafts, resulting in large-scale unemployment among artisans and contributing to the process of deindustrialisation in India.
OR YOU CAN ANSWER IN A BIT DETAILED MANNER:-
Yes, I fully agree with this view that the traditional handicrafts industries were ruined under British rule.
The destruction of these industries was mainly due to the colonial economic policies of the British. The reasons are explained below in simple and clear terms:
Reasons for the Ruin of Traditional Handicrafts in India
1. Discriminatory Trade Policies
The British followed a policy that favored British industries. Indian handicraft products faced heavy export duties in England, while British machine-made goods entered India freely or at low duties. This made Indian products costlier and uncompetitive.
2. Flooding of British Machine-Made Goods
With the Industrial Revolution in Britain, factories produced cloth and other goods cheaply and in large quantities. These machine-made goods flooded Indian markets and replaced handmade Indian products, causing a sharp decline in demand for handicrafts.
3. Loss of Royal Patronage
Before British rule, Indian artisans received support from Indian rulers, zamindars, and princely courts. The British destroyed or weakened these systems, and with the decline of Indian royalty, artisans lost their traditional patrons.
4. Decline of Urban Handicraft Centres
Many famous centres of handicrafts, such as Dacca (muslin), Murshidabad, Surat, and Masulipatnam, declined as artisans were forced to abandon their crafts due to falling incomes.
5. No State Support for Indian Industries
The British government never tried to modernise or protect Indian handicrafts. Instead, they promoted British manufacturers to use India as a market for finished goods and a source of raw materials.
Conclusion
Thus, British rule led to systematic deindustrialisation of India. Traditional handicrafts were unable to compete with cheap machine-made imports and, as a result, millions of artisans lost their livelihoods and were forced to turn to agriculture or menial labour.