Who were ‘gomasthas’? Why were they appointed? How did they treat the weavers?

Who were ‘gomasthas’? Why were they appointed? How did they treat the weavers?

  • ‘GOMASTHAS’ were paid servants appointed by the East India Company to supervise
    weavers.
  • The Company appointed them to establish a more direct control over the weavers and to eliminate traders and brokers connected with cloth trade.
  • The ‘gomasthas’ behaved arrogantly and punished weavers for delay in supply, often beating them. In many weaving villages there were reports of clashes between weavers and gomasthas as they often marched into villages with sepoy and peons.