Good to read how Indian cotton was a part of a global trade long before globalisation entered the lexicon. Historically, cotton and textile have played a very critical role in triggering industrial revolution, in England in the 18th and 19th century, to China at the end of the 20th century, and many in between.
It is also interesting to know how British colonial regime stymied industrialisation India, by following a trade policy that put Indian textile and garment manufacturers at a disadvantage. And successive governments in independent India continued in the same vein making Indian manufacturing less competitive in the global market. Consequently, today, it is Bangladesh, Indonesia, Vietnam, etc that are now entering the global market on the back of textile and garment manufacturing, out competing India. While India has emerged as one of the top 2 or 3 largest cotton growing countries, over the past two decades, yet value addition in the form of textile and garments have continued to elude the potential.
Such a fabulous post, Aditi. I am really enjoying this fresh view of Indian history. It immensely helps in making sense of Indian state, today.
Good to read how Indian cotton was a part of a global trade long before globalisation entered the lexicon. Historically, cotton and textile have played a very critical role in triggering industrial revolution, in England in the 18th and 19th century, to China at the end of the 20th century, and many in between.
It is also interesting to know how British colonial regime stymied industrialisation India, by following a trade policy that put Indian textile and garment manufacturers at a disadvantage. And successive governments in independent India continued in the same vein making Indian manufacturing less competitive in the global market. Consequently, today, it is Bangladesh, Indonesia, Vietnam, etc that are now entering the global market on the back of textile and garment manufacturing, out competing India. While India has emerged as one of the top 2 or 3 largest cotton growing countries, over the past two decades, yet value addition in the form of textile and garments have continued to elude the potential.