1. Continued Demand for Indian Textiles (1760s–1770s)

During the 1760s and 1770s, even after the East India Company consolidated its political power in India, the export of Indian textiles continued to thrive. This period was marked by strong European demand for Indian fabrics, particularly fine cotton and silk textiles. Several factors contributed to this sustained demand and the Company’s strategy to expand textile exports from India.

1.1 High Demand for Indian Textiles in Europe 🌍🧵

• Indian textiles, particularly fine cotton and silk fabrics, were highly valued in European markets for their superior quality, intricate designs, and durability. ✨
• British textile industries had not yet fully developed, making Indian goods indispensable for European consumers. 🇬🇧🛍️
• Indian fabrics were used for a variety of purposes, including fashion garments, household decorations, and furnishings. 👗🏡

1.2 The East India Company’s Focus on Textile Trade 📈💼

• Recognizing the strong European demand, the East India Company prioritized textile exports from India. 🇮🇳📦
• The Company sought to expand production and secure a steady supply of textiles to maximize profits. 📊💵
• Officials in India were instructed to ensure that textiles reached Britain in large quantities and at low costs. 🚢💸

1.3 Dependence on Indian Weavers and Merchants 🧶🤝

• The Company relied heavily on Indian weavers and merchants to meet export demands. 🧵💼
• Indian weavers, known for their skill and craftsmanship, produced high-quality cotton and silk textiles that could not yet be replicated in Britain. 🧑‍🏭✨
• Indian merchants played a crucial role in facilitating the trade, ensuring that textiles reached Company warehouses and were shipped to Europe. 🚚🌍

1.4 Absence of British Textile Industry as a Competitor ⚔️🇬🇧

• In the 1760s and 1770s, the British textile industry was not yet industrialized and could not produce fine textiles at scale. 🏭❌
• The absence of local competition in Britain allowed Indian textiles to dominate European markets. 👑🛒
• This scenario changed later, with the advent of industrialization in Britain, which eventually led to the decline of Indian textile exports. ⚙️📉

1.5 The Company’s Efforts to Increase Textile Exports 📦🚀

• To meet growing European demand, the Company aimed to increase production in India. 🇮🇳🔝
• However, before gaining full political control in Bengal and Carnatic, the Company struggled to maintain a steady supply due to competition from other European traders. ⚔️💬
• The Company’s ultimate goal was to eliminate competitors and establish a monopoly over textile trade, which it eventually achieved in the coming decades. 👑💵

2. Competition in the Textile Market Before British Monopoly

Before the East India Company established complete political control in Bengal and Carnatic (1760s–1770s), it struggled to secure a steady supply of textiles due to intense competition. Multiple traders, including European rivals and local merchants, were actively involved in the Indian textile trade, making it difficult for the Company to dominate the market.

2.1 Presence of Multiple Buyers in the Market 💼🌍

• The Indian textile trade was not solely controlled by the British; it was a competitive and diverse marketplace. 🏙️💥
• Several trading groups, including the French, Dutch, and Portuguese, actively purchased Indian textiles. 🇫🇷🇳🇱🇵🇹
• Local Indian traders and merchants also played a significant role, often securing large quantities of cloth for their own trade networks. 👳‍♂️💰

2.2 Weavers Had the Power to Choose Buyers ✨🧶

• Since there were multiple buyers, weavers and supply merchants had greater bargaining power. 🤝💵
• They could sell their products to the highest bidder, ensuring better prices for their textiles. 🏷️💸
• Competition among European traders kept prices high, making it costly for the British East India Company to purchase goods. 💰⚔️

2.3 Difficulties Faced by the East India Company 📉🤯

• Company officials complained in their letters to London about the challenges in procuring textiles at lower costs. 🖋️📬
• The presence of competitors made it hard for the Company to maintain a steady supply of textiles. ⚔️📦
• Prices remained high due to competition, increasing the Company’s operational costs. 💸🔝
• The Company struggled to meet the growing demand for Indian textiles in Europe because supply was divided among many traders. 🏢🌍

2.4 The Company’s Strategy to Overcome Competition 💡🎯

• The Company aimed to eliminate rival traders and establish direct control over weavers. 🛑⚖️
• It sought to secure exclusive trading rights from local rulers, preventing others from purchasing textiles. 📜🔒
• The ultimate goal was to establish a monopoly over Indian textile exports, which would allow the Company to dictate prices and maximize profits. 💼💸

3. Establishment of British Monopoly in the Textile Trade 🇬🇧💼

After securing political power in Bengal and Carnatic in the 1760s and 1770s, the East India Company worked aggressively to eliminate competition and monopolize the Indian textile trade. To do this, it developed a system of direct control over weavers and traders, ensuring that textiles were produced only for the Company at minimal costs.

3.1 Elimination of Indian Traders and Brokers ❌💵

• Previously, Indian supply merchants acted as intermediaries between weavers and exporters, setting prices and ensuring fair trade. 🧵🔄
• The British East India Company removed these middlemen to gain direct control over weavers. 🏢⚔️
• Without local merchants, weavers had no choice but to sell their textiles to the Company at the prices it dictated. 🏷️💸

3.2 Introduction of the ‘Gomastha’ System 👤🧵

• The Company appointed a gomastha (a paid official) in each weaving village to supervise production. 🧑‍💼🏘️
• The gomasthas’ duties included:

• Ensuring that weavers produced only for the Company. ✅💼
• Collecting finished cloth and checking its quality. 🧵🔍
• Preventing weavers from selling their products to other traders. 🚫🏷️

3.3 Control Through the System of Advances 💸📈

• To further tie weavers to the Company, a system of advances (loans) was introduced. 💰🔄
• Weavers were forced to accept loans to buy raw materials, such as cotton and silk. 🌾💵
• In return, they had to commit to selling only to the Company. 🤝💼
• Once they took an advance, they could not sell their cloth to any other buyer, effectively trapping them in a cycle of dependency. 🔒⏳

3.4 Impact on Weavers 🧵😔

• At first, many weavers eagerly accepted advances, hoping for financial stability. 🤗💵
• However, they soon realized that they were being forced to work at low wages with no bargaining power. 😟⚖️
• The prices paid by the Company were miserably low, and the loans became a tool for exploitation rather than support. 📉💸

4. Exploitation and Suffering of Weavers 🧵😞

As the East India Company tightened its control over the textile industry, weavers faced severe exploitation under the new system. The Company’s monopoly, forced advances, and strict supervision led to widespread suffering, resentment, and, ultimately, resistance.

4.1 Harsh Treatment by the Gomasthas 👮‍♂️💥

• Unlike traditional Indian supply merchants, who had long-term relationships with weavers and supported them in difficult times, the gomasthas were outsiders. 🧑‍💼👀
• The gomasthas:

• Acted arrogantly and imposed strict rules. ⚖️🛑
• Marched into villages with sepoys (soldiers) and peons, intimidating weavers. 🪖🛑
• Punished and flogged weavers for delays in supply. 💢⏳

4.2 Loss of Bargaining Power ⚖️💸

• Under the previous system, weavers could sell to different buyers, securing the best possible price. 💵🤝
• The Company’s monopoly eliminated competition, forcing weavers to sell at extremely low prices. 📉💰
• Many fell into debt as they were unable to cover their costs. 💳❌

4.3 Desertion and Migration 🏃‍♂️🌍

• To escape exploitation, many weavers deserted their villages and moved to other areas where they had family connections. 🏠🛤️
• Some set up new looms in different villages, hoping to work independently. 🧵🏡
• However, the Company often tracked them down and forced them back into its system. 🚔🔒

4.4 Rebellion and Resistance ✊🔥

• Frustrated by their exploitation, some weavers and local traders revolted against the Company. 🥊🔥
• In several places, weavers:

• Refused to take advances, cutting ties with the Company. ❌💰
• Destroyed their looms and shifted to agricultural labor to escape the system. 🚜🧵
• Attacked gomasthas, resisting their oppressive tactics. 🧑‍🏭💥

As a result of these conflicts, the once-thriving textile industry in India declined, and many skilled weavers were pushed into poverty. By the turn of the 19th century, they faced new challenges as British industrialization further disrupted their livelihoods. 💸📉

5. The Decline of Indian Cotton Weaving by the 19th Century 📉🧵

By the early 19th century, Indian cotton weavers faced new challenges that further weakened their industry. These problems were largely due to the rise of British industrialization, changes in trade policies, and continued exploitation under colonial rule.

5.1 The Impact of British Industrialization ⚙️🇬🇧

• The Industrial Revolution in Britain led to the development of mechanized textile mills, which could produce cotton cloth faster and cheaper than Indian handlooms. 🏭🔝
• Lancashire and Manchester became major centers of textile production, creating fierce competition for Indian weavers. 🏙️📈
• As British cloth production increased, demand for Indian textiles in Europe declined sharply. 📉🔻

5.2 Influx of Cheap British Textiles into India 💷🇮🇳

• The British government imposed heavy duties (taxes) on Indian textiles exported to Britain, making them expensive in the European market. 💵📊
• At the same time, duty-free British machine-made cloth was exported to India, flooding the market with cheaper alternatives. 🚢💰
• Indian handwoven cloth could not compete with cheap, mass-produced British goods, leading to a steep decline in demand for local weavers. 📉👚

5.3 Loss of Livelihood for Weavers 🧵😞

• Many weavers found themselves out of work as orders from the British East India Company dried up. 📉🚫
• The decline in demand forced weavers to:

• Abandon weaving and turn to low-paying agricultural labor. 🚜🧑‍🌾
• Work as factory laborers in British-owned mills, where conditions were harsh. 🏭😔
• Live in extreme poverty, as their once-thriving craft was destroyed. 💸😢

5.4 The Collapse of Traditional Weaving Villages 🌍🏚️

• Entire weaving communities that once flourished under Indian and international trade suffered economic ruin. 🧵💔
• The rich heritage of Indian textiles—which had dominated global markets for centuries—was gradually erased under British policies. 🏛️❌

By the mid-19th century, the Indian handloom industry was severely weakened, and British manufactured textiles dominated Indian markets. This marked a significant economic and cultural shift, as centuries-old traditions of Indian weaving were disrupted by colonial exploitation and industrial competition. 🇮🇳⚔️