Write Notes and Explain ‘Manchester Comes to India’ for Class 10 CBSE Social Science
The title “Manchester Comes to India” refers to how the English Industrial Revolution affected the Indian economy, especially the textile industry. When industrialization came to England, it made it easier and cheaper to make textiles, which in turn made it possible to make cheaper textiles that could be sold at lower prices.
This was bad for India’s traditional textile industry, which had relied on handloom weaving but was now threatened by cheap textiles from England. Because of this, many weavers in India had to quit their jobs, and the textile industry in the country fell into disrepair.
By the 17th century, the British East India Company had set up shop in India and was actively promoting the import of cheap textiles from Britain. So, Indian weavers were hurt even more because they couldn’t compete with the low prices of goods that were brought in.
Manchester was important in India in more ways than just the textile business. The British changed how technology, transportation, and communication worked. This had a big impact on the Indian economy and way of life. For example, the railways made it easier for the British to get to resources and grow their economy by making it possible to move raw materials and finished goods all over the country.
But Manchester did also have some good effects on India. During this time, some things got better, like more people were able to go to college and new economic sectors like jute and coal mining were created. Many people in India see Manchester as a sign of exploitative economic imperialism, which is a controversial and complicated part of the city’s history.