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Book No. – 19 (Sociology)
Book Name – Social Background of Indian Nationalism (A.R. Desai)
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1. Effect of British Rule on Town Handicrafts
2. Disappearance of States, Patrons of Town Handicrafts
3. Foreign Rule, its Disastrous Effects on Town Handicrafts
4. Reasons for their Ruination
5. Decline of Indian Town Handicrafts
6. Historical Significance of Decline
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Decline of Town Handicrafts
Chapter – 5
Table of Contents
Effect of British Rule on Town Handicrafts
- D. R. Gadgil summarizes the effect of British rule on town handicrafts as a “sudden and complete” collapse.
- The decline of these handicrafts was dramatic and marked an economic transition.
- The causes of this collapse were numerous, but the most important ones were:
- The disappearance of the native Indian courts.
- The establishment of an alien rule with the influx of foreign influences.
- The competition from a more highly developed form of industry.
Disappearance of States, Patrons of Town Handicrafts
- The conquest of India by the East India Company led to the disappearance of native rulers in rapid succession.
- States vanished, replaced by new forms of rule and administration by the East India Company.
- Even areas where native rulers were not ousted came under indirect political domination of the British.
- This disappearance and decline of states had a direct effect on town handicrafts.
- Native states were the biggest customers of town handicraft products and maintained large manufactories and workshops.
- Their disappearance curtailed the demand for handicraft products, striking the first blow to Indian handicrafts.
- The highest class of goods needed by princes and nobles for state occasions ceased production.
- While ordinary demand continued for some time, it steadily diminished.
- The disappearance of states also affected industries supplying goods for military and other state purposes.
- The production of military weapons (swords, spears, daggers, shields) and artistic industries like enamelling and damascening had reached a high development in pre-British India.
- The disappearance of states had a ruinous effect on these industries.