The Decline of Indian Handicrafts

Impact of British Rule on Indian Industries

• The Indian textile industry was most affected by British rule and its policies.

Promotion of British Products

• The British imposed heavy tariffs on Indian goods, making them more expensive and less competitive in the market.
• The British also removed tariffs on their own goods, making them cheaper and more attractive to Indian consumers.

Struggle of Indian Handmade Goods

• Indian handmade goods struggled to compete with British machine-made goods due to differences in production costs and quality.
• British machine-made goods were cheaper and of a consistent quality, whereas Indian handmade goods were more expensive and varied in quality.

Patronage of Indian Handicrafts

• Before the British rule, Indian handicrafts were patronized by Indian royalty and nobility.
• After the establishment of British rule, the patronage of Indian handicrafts declined, as the British encouraged the use of their own machine-made goods.