Life and Conditions of the People of Hindustan (1200–1550 A.D.) c6.s2.t1.59

c6.s2.t1.59

After the enumeration of these chief industries of Hindustan, let us add a word on the nature and organization of industrial labour. In their main features the industrial workers did not differ greatly from rural craftsmen and shared all their advantages and disadvantages. The industrial guilds were based on castes and were hereditary; their implements and the technique of their work was crude, and the output meagre though of excellent quality. Except to those who worked in royal *Karkhanas* or were employed by the government, no adequate State protection was given to safeguard their interests. The supply of industrial goods was restricted by the needs of a small upper class which was content with a few varieties of textile goods, a few articles of metal-work or wood-work, specified forms of architecture, and a very limited number of other goods. The workmen did not think of the broader needs of a whole community. It may be admitted without hesitation that the artistic value of these goods was considerable and the skill of the Indian workman developed to an extraordinary degree in the long course of his work.¹ Unfortunately, the traditions of guilds and crafts created a rigid exclusiveness and in some cases the secrets of skilled crafts died with them and were lost to the future generations.²