22 April 2025 : Daily Answer Writing

Q1) How did the British policies contribute to the de-industrialization of India, and how did this process affect the lives of Indian artisans and the broader economy? (15 marks, 250 words)

ANSWER

The British colonial period witnessed the systematic dismantling of India’s indigenous industries, transforming a once-thriving artisanal economy into a dependent colonial appendage. Through a series of exploitative policies, the British accelerated India’s de-industrialization, leading to widespread poverty, unemployment, and underdevelopment.

Key British Policies Behind De-Industrialization:

• Drain of Wealth: As highlighted by Dadabhai Naoroji, British policies extracted immense economic value from India, depriving domestic industries of vital capital.
• Destruction of Traditional Industries: The Indian textile and handicraft sectors were destroyed by the influx of cheap British factory-made goods.
• Exploitative Land Revenue Systems: Permanent Settlement and Ryotwari forced artisans to turn to agriculture, weakening India’s industrial fabric.
• Commercialization of Agriculture: Shift to cash crops for export harmed food security and rural stability.
• Unfair Trade Policies: India was reduced to a supplier of raw materials and a consumer of British products.
• Tariff Disparities: Heavy tariffs on Indian goods entering Britain and minimal tariffs on British goods in India destroyed local manufacturing competitiveness.
• Market Manipulation: British efforts to expand their cotton market led to the decline of India’s native cotton industry.

Impact on Indian Artisans and the Broader Economy 

1. Loss of Employment: Traditional artisans lost jobs as indigenous industries collapsed.
2. Poverty and Destitution: Once self-reliant workers faced deep poverty and declining living standards.
3. Social Displacement: Craft-based communities broke apart, losing identity and cohesion.
4. Economic Dependency: India became reliant on British goods, stalling local innovation.
5. Stagnation of Growth: Industrial decline led to long-term economic underdevelopment.
6. Trade Imbalance: Export of raw materials and import of goods caused payment deficits.
7. Loss of Skills: Centuries-old artisanal knowledge and heritage were permanently lost.

Thus, British colonial policies not only crippled India’s economy but also dismantled its cultural and industrial backbone. The legacy of this forced de-industrialization continued to impact India’s development trajectory long after independence.

Read More – 19 April 2025 : Daily Answer Writing