Ethics Theory, TLP-UPSC Mains Answer Writing
Q. 14. The decline of Indian handicrafts during British rule was not merely due to foreign competition but also due to colonial policies. Examine. (250 words, 15 marks)
Introduction
Colonial economic policies such as duty-free import of British textiles, heavy taxation on Indian crafts, and dismantling of local credit networks led to a 50% decline in artisan employment by 1850, crippling traditional industries and livelihoods.
Body
Exploitative Colonial Policies
- Deindustrialisation Strategy: British aimed to make India a raw material supplier and market for British goods, sidelining local artisans.
- Tariff Discrimination: Indian goods faced high duties in Britain, while British imports were duty-free in India—creating unequal competition.
- Revenue Settlements: Heavy land taxes under Permanent Settlement forced artisans-turned-farmers to abandon crafts and prioritise subsistence.
- Destruction of Institutions: The guild system and craft clusters (e.g. weaving in Bengal) lost state and societal patronage.
- Transport and Railways: Designed to aid British commercial interests, they brought floods of imports, undermining local production networks.
Causes beyond Competition
- Loss of Royal Patronage: Decline of princely states and courts (e.g., Awadh, Hyderabad) reduced demand for luxury crafts.
- Lack of Technological Upgradation: Indian artisans were not supported in modernising tools or accessing capital.
- Census and Classification: British census often misclassified skilled artisans as ‘low castes’, marginalising their social status.
- Mass Unemployment: Handloom weavers and metal workers lost livelihoods—by 1850s, over 1 million weavers were displaced.
- Famines and Poverty: Colonial neglect during famines further eroded artisan incomes and sustainability of crafts.
Conclusion
Colonial deindustrialisation uprooted artisan economies, causing long-term damage to India’s industrial base. This legacy still echoes in today’s rural poverty, overreliance on agriculture, and India’s struggle to create broad-based, inclusive non-farm employment.
