Point out the Indian Handicrafts:
The European companies began arriving on the Indian soil from 16th century. During this period, they were constantly engaged in fierce competition to establish their supremacy and monopoly over Indian trade. Not surprisingly, therefore, initial objective of the English East Company was to rare flourishing trade with India.
Later, this objective was enlarged to acquire a monopoly over this trade and obtain the entire profit. Although the trade monopoly thus acquired by the company in India was ended by the Charter Act of 1833, yet the British policy of exploiting the resources of India continued unabated. In this respect, the nature of the British rule was different from the earlier rulers. As far as the traditional handicraft industry and the production of objects of art were concerned, Indian was already far ahead of other countries in the world.
The textiles were the most important among the Indian industries. Its cotton, silk and woolen products were sought after all over the world. Particularly, the Muslim of Dacca, carpets of Lahore, shawls of Kashmir, and the embroidery works of Banaras were very famous. Ivory goods, Wood works and Jewellery were other widely sought after Indian commodities.
Apart from Dacca, which w^s highly famous for its Muslims, the other important centres of textile ’ production were Krishna Nagar, Chandiri Arni and Banaras, Dhoties and Dupattas of Ahmadabad. Chikan of Lucknow and silk borders of Nagpur had earned worldwide fame. For their silk products some small towns of Bengal besides, Malda and Murshidabad were very famous. Similarly, Kashmir, Punjab and western Rajasthan were famous for their woolen garments.
Besides textiles, India was also known widely for its shipping, leather and metal industries. Indian fame as an industrial economy rested on cutting and polishing of marble and other precious stones and carving .of ivory and Sandalwood. Moradabad and Banaras were famous for brass, copper, bronze utensils, Nasik, Poona, Hyderabad and Tanjore were famous for other metal works. Kutch, Sind and Punjab were known for manufacturing arms.
Kolhapur, Satara,'Gorakhpur, Agra, Chittor and Palaghat had likewise earned a reputation for their glass industries. Making of gold, silver and diamond Jewellery was another important industrial activity in which many places in India specialized. These entire handicrafts industry indicated a vibrant Economy in India.