Question

Which among the following statements is not true about the East India Company (EIC) gaining supremacy in trade?

• A. The EIC fought with other European traders to secure steady supply of raw materials.
• B. The EIC hired gomasthas and gave advances to weavers to secure their finished products.
• C. The gomasthas lived with the weavers and had a good relationship with the weavers.
• D. The weavers leased out their agricultural plots to take up weaving on a full-time basis.

Answer 1

The correct option is C The gomasthas lived with the weavers and had a good relationship with the weavers.

The EIC had to gain political supremacy to gain supremacy in trade. They fought with other European merchants to gain a steady and cheap supply of raw materials. They gained monopoly on the supply through the gomastha system. The gomasthas supervised weavers and collected supplies. The EIC also gave advances to weavers to prevent weavers from supplying finished cloth to other merchants. The gomasthas were outsiders who had no social links with the villagers. They punished the weavers severely for delays. Eventually, the weavers refused the loans, closed their workshops, and started working as agricultural workers.