Question

Where was the first cotton mill in India established?

Answer 1

In 1854, the first cotton mill was set up in Bombay. and It grew as an important port for the export of raw cotton from India to England and China. This cotton crop became a huge demand and farmers started investing in it. Cotton turned the market upside down. Huge number of labours started working in mills.

Progress of Cotton mills

• In Bombay, about 84 mills were established by Parsi and Gujarati businessmen by 1900.
• The construction and development of mills in cities stared and the first mill in Ahmedabad was started in 1861.
• Growth of cotton mills demanded manpower.
• Poor peasants, artisans and agricultural labourers started working in the mills.
• Textile industry of India faced problems such as difficulty competing with the cheap textiles imported from Britain.
• In most countries, the government-supported industrialisation by applying and imposing heavy duties on imports which eliminated competition and protected infant industries.
• The first major spurt in the development of cotton factory production in India was during the First World War when textile imports from Britain were declined and Indian factories were called upon to produce cloth for military supplies.