A History of Agriculture in India v2.c84.s5: Industry
A History of Agriculture in India v2.c84.s5
- Language
- English
Contents
- v2.c84.s5.t1 Paper — 1 part
- v2.c84.s5.t2 Lac — 1 part
- v2.c84.s5.t3 Iron — 2 parts
Industry
v2.c84.s5.1
The chief industry of India was handloom textiles, and its aggregate production was impressive. Its magnitude certainly impressed the Portuguese, as may be seen from the statement quoted by Pyrard, that ‘every one from the Cape of Good Hope to China, man and woman, is clothed from head to foot’ in the products of Indian looms. Fine muslins were manufactured in royal karkhanas. These muslins were used for turbans, and also for drawers worn by females, so delicately fine as frequently to wear out in one night. ‘This article of dress, which lasts only a few hours,’ says Bernier, ‘may cost ten or twelve crowns, and even more, when beautifully embroidered with needle-work.’
Paper
v2.c84.s5.t1.1
Paper, which was required for official work on a large scale, was manufactured from wood-pulp obtained from trees. A good deal of paper was manufactured from wood-pulp in Lahore, and Rajgir, in Bihar. There was a considerable progress in the production of paper in the seventeenth century. During the reign of Aurangzeb paper was manufactured in Awadh also.
Lac
v2.c84.s5.t2.1
Lac was extracted from the trees, and, besides being used for manufacturing women’s bangles, it was also utilized in varnishing furniture, doors, windows and toys. The Dutch exported it to Persia. The lac bangle and toy industry flourished most in Gujarat especially at Surat.
Iron
v2.c84.s5.t3.1
Iron was smelted in comparatively small quantities. Hence only essential hand-tools for agriculture were manufactured from iron. Moreland states, ‘At the Imperial Court 1 lb. of iron in this form was worth 10 lb. of wheat, while about the year 1914 the value was just over 3 lb., and on this basis Akbar’s peasants had to pay more than three times as much grain as their modern successors for the iron they required for tools and implements.’⁶
v2.c84.s5.t3.2
⁶ Moreland, W.H. *India at the Death of Akbar*..., p. 150.