Industry and Administrative Policy: A Critique of Decline of Cotton Industry in Colonial India 1757-1857

Before the coming of the regime of East India Company, the cotton industry enjoyed flourishingstatus as India held a global monopoly over the manufacturing of cotton textiles for more than threethousand years. Even during medieval ages, export of cotton textiles to Eastern and European countrieswas a magnificent achievement of India’s industrial advancement. This generated a significantemployment for skilled and unskilled labour all over the country and profoundly contributed tostrengthening of Indian economy. Most of the regions of the country developed as the hub of theindustry and famous for their standard and quality manufactures in India and abroad. It was one ofprincipal industries organized on domestic basis. But with the establishment of the Company’s rule1757-1857 its bad days began as its exploitative policy gradually ruined the industry ,its owners,weavers and employees. This overlooked aspect of Economic History of India is discussed andassessed in historical perspective in this study