Name: Human Labour in the Era of Industrial Revolution
Uploaded: 2019-07-19
Duration: 5 min 22 s
Description: A machine can do in minutes what a man can do in hours. But are there any downsides? Let's take a look at the battle between man and machine.

Question

How did the East India Company procure regular supplies of cotton and silk textiles from Indian weavers?

Accepted Answer

The East India Company procured regular supplies of cotton and silk textiles from Indian weaves through the following:

(i) After establishing political power in India, East India Company asserted monopoly right to trade.
(ii) Then the company developed a system that would eliminate competition, control costs, and would ensure a regular supply of cotton and silk.
(iii) The Company appointed Gomostha to supervise weavers, collect supplies, and examine the quality of cloth produced by them.

(iv) To directly control weavers, the company started the system of advances. According to this system, once an order was placed, the weavers were given loans to purchase the raw material. They had to hand over the produced to the Gomastha. They could not take it to any other trader.
(v) The places where the weaver refused to cooperate were often beaten and flogged for delays in supply. They would take Sepoys and Peons to threaten the weavers.

How did the East India Company procure regular supplies of cotton and silk textiles from Indian weavers?

Important Questions on The Age of Industrialisation

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