How does the history of India's textile industries reflect the growth and decline of colonialism - Term Paper Example

This has also comprised of a significant component of trade in Portugal.1 Traditionally, the textile industry in India is the only industry that generated huge employment in the country after agriculture. Textile industry is the second largest income and employment generating sector in India. Textile industry occupies a special position in India, and accounts for over 14 percent of total production. This approximates to 30 percent total exports. The industry provides one of the basic needs in the country, hence enhance maintenance of sustainable growth and improve the quality of life.

The industry holds a unique position as a self reliant industry, ranging from raw material production to delivery of finished products, accompanied by the addition of value at every stage. This paper evaluates how the textile industry in India reflects the growth and decline of colonialism.1 History of Textile Industry India’s textile industry remains remarkable worldwide for production and supply of textile goods. The industry was virtually decayed during the colonial period. Nevertheless, the modern textile industry dates back at the beginning of 19th century after the establishment of the first textile mill in Calcutta in 1818.

The textile industry, however, made a real beginning in 1850s in Bombay, with the first textile mill established in 1854 by the Parsi cotton merchant who engaged in internal and overseas trade afterwards. Indeed, vast majority of early mills were by handiwork merchants who engaged in the cloth trade in markets at home and in African2 markets. The cotton mill in Ahmedabad was established in 1871 and emerged as a rival centre to the one in Bombay. The Gujarati trading class facilitated the development of the cotton mills at Ahmedabad.

The industry has since then expanded rapidly, especially during the second half of 19th century that saw the establishment of 178 cotton mills. However, in 1900, the textile industry was in a very bad state due to increased due to famine leading to mot mills in Bombay and Ahmedabad closed for long periods. By 1945, the mills had employed more than 5.10 lahk workers. The industry is described as Swadesh as it was developed from the indigenous entrepreneurship as well as capital in the pre-independence era when the Swedish movement stimulated the demand for the Indian textile.

The country’s partition during independence affected the textile industry when the Indian union gotten 409 out of available 423 mills in undivided India. This saw 14 mills and 22 percent of the land going to Pakistan. Also, some mills were closed down making most Indian mills import their cotton from Pakistan and other countries after independence. After independence, the country made more rapid strides under the plans. This saw doubling of the spindles from 11 to 22 million between 1951 and 1982.

This further increased during 1989-90. The colonialists used textile industry for their own personal gain where they exploited the weavers and created a cultural hotch-potch. This affected native cultures where the indigenous production moulds and design patterns underwent major modifications at the onslaught of the alien culture. This sometimes encouraged virtual extinction of some valuable native crafts. The colonial history of the textile industry in India can be split into two phases; 17th and 18th centuries.

During this period, Indian muslins and calicoes enhanced commerce in the European East India Companies. The second phase of