World of Industries

BEGINNING OF MODERN INDUSTRY


A few modern industries were started in India in the half of 19th century but were mostly owned and controlled by British Companies. Eventhough some Indians owned Industries, they could not develop them because of the discouraging attitude of the government.

The Vandemataram movement started by the extremist Congress leader Bal Gangadhar tilak included the programme of boycott of foreign goods and production of Swadeshi goods. This gave an impetus to start modern industries in India. During the two World Wars the British imports to India were not sufficient to meet the Indian demand.

Indigo was grown in Bengal and Bihar. It has great demand in England for their textile Industry as dyes were manufactured from Indigo. But by the end of the 19th century Indigo lost its market as synthetic dyes which cheeaper and durable were introduced. Tea also was exported to England in 19yh century and tea was grown in Assam, Bengal and South India. India topped in World Tea Market by the beginning of 20th century. Tea, Coffee, Cinchona and Rubber were exported to England.

The first Cotton mill was started in Bombay in 1853 and Textile Industry made a steady progress. In the first decade of 20th century India ranked fourth among textile producing countries. These cotton mills were established at Ahmedabad and Bombay. Indian Jute mills enjoyed the position of monoply till the end of 19th century.

In 1845 work in coal mines began in India. Coal was an important source of power in all industreies. Coal was largely available in Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. As modern industries required Iron and Steel also, the famous Tata Iron and Steel Company was established in Jamshedpur in 1905. Later smaller Iron insudtries were founded in Bengal and Mysore. Consequently engineering industries also were devloped.


Cement and Sugar industry began to develop by 1930. However machines were imported only from England for these industries. On the whole the British policies kept Indian capital under check while British capital played a dominating role.