Why were there f frequent clashes between ‘gomasthas’ and ‘weavers’ in the villages?
THE ‘Gomasthas’ were paid servants whose job was to supervise weavers, collect supplies and examine the cloth. In many weaving villages, there were clashes between the gomasthas and the weavers who began ill treating the villagers.
- Earlier supply merchants had lived within the villages and had a close relationship with the weavers, looking after their needs and helping them in times of crisis.
- The new gomasthas were outsiders with no large-term social link with the village.
- They acted arrogantly and punished weavers for delays in supplies, beating and flogging them with the help of sepoys and peons.
- The weavers lost freedom to bargain for prices and sell to different buyers and received miserably low prices from the Company.
- The loans they had accepted had tied them to British company.