r»TJvIlAr A DTPD 1 July * AXTT HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF POWER-LOOM INDUSTRY IN ICHALKARAN JI CITY 24

CHAPTER - II

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF POWER-LOOM INDUSTRY IN CITY

2.1 INTRODUCTION: History of looms can be traced back to 17th century. The first powerloom was invented by Edmund Cartwright in 1785. Originally powerlooms were with shuttle, and they were very slow. But as the industrial demands for faster production accelerate, faster looms without shuttle came in use in early part of 20th century. As development and innovations take place, various types of looms were developed for faster production. Today, Airjet, Water- jet, Rapier and Other computer operated looms are used to maximize production of special materials. Though weaving is one of the important sector for Indian industry, yet the nature of this sector is mainly unorganized.1 of Ichalkaranji has a long cherished history. Today, Ichalkaranji has become one of the leading centres of textile industry. This city has historical importance also. Ichalkaranji a small town in the rural area of this western region of State, has given this nation many pioneering concepts which have not only provided new dimensions and direction to textile industry.

2.2 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF ICHALKARANJI CITY: Ichalkaranji city is located in western Maharashtra and included in district of Maharashtra for the last hundred years, it is growing fast and has become one of the leading centres 25 of textile industry. This city has historical important also. This city is known as the little ‘Manchester of Maharashtra’.

2.2.1 LOCATION OF THE CITY : Geographically, The town Ichalkaranji is situated at on altitude of 556 meters above the mean sea level. Ichalkaranji is on latitude of 16-40 North and longitude 74-25 East. It is located about 26 kms. to the south west of city. Ichalkaranji is joined by road to Nipani and Chikodi towns of State.

2.2.2 RAILWAY ROUTE: Ichalkaranji city is situated midway between Kolhapur and railway line, and it is 9.5 kms. south of the railway station, Hatkanangale is also its Taluka place. Ichalkaranji city is 29 kms. away from Kolhapur railway station.2

2.2.3 THE ORIGIN OF THE NAME OF ICHALKARANJI: It is supposed that Ichalkaranji has been founded in the first century A. D. At first there were seven hamlets. But some people say that there were three villages 1) Inchi 2) Unchi 3) Karanji. Later on these villages mixed into one single village named as Ichalkaranji. The second theory about the origin is that there was a part of a forest and there were trees of karanji on a large scale and the name of the village derived form Ince. Form this the name Ichalkaranji might have come into existence. LOCATION OF STUDY AREA ICHALKARANJI CITY MAP 26

2.2.4 CLIMATE : The climate of the region is characterized by different climatic conditions. During the summer season [February to May] it is hot, during rainy season [June to September] it is wet and during the winter season [October to January] it is cold.

2.2.5 THE RIVER: The river Panchganga is very near to the city. It is 1.6 km. form the city. The river Punchganga divides the two states Maharashtra and Karnataka. It is considered the border of the two states.

2.2.6 THE SOIL: The soil may be classed into four types black, red, mulee or malwa the orchard and khari.

2.2.7. RAINFALL: The rainfall is very low in Ichalkarnaji. Rainfall is below 650 mm. The industrial pollution is responsible for the poor rainfall.

2.2.8 PRODUCTS : Sugar - cane, Jawar, Wheat, Soyabean and Some Rice are the main agricultural products. Ichalkaranji is strictly speaking an important centre.

2.2.9 PEOPLE AND CULTURE : Ichalkaranji can be widely divided into two economic strata - Labour class and Business class. People either own their textile related business unit or they work in one. 27

Iehalkaranji is also the hub for cultural activities. The classical vocal singing was pioneered in Iehalkaranji by Pandit Balkrishna Bua and the tradition continues till today, There are academies like Padanyas Kala Mandir, Pandit Balkrishna Bua Sangeet Sadhana Mandal which are spreading the Indian art forms in the young generation. They also host many cultural programmes throughout the year which help in spreading cultural awareness amongst people.

2.2.10 EDUCATION: Iehalkaranji provides excellent primary and higher secondary education facilities. Along with arts, science and commerce colleges, Iehalkaranji also has an engineering college named Dattajirao Kadam Technical Education Society's Textile and Engineering Institute Iehalkaranji. This educational institute is very well reputed for its unique courses like Textile Technology, Man-Made Textile Technology, Textile Plant Engineering, Textile Chemistry, Fashion Technology. It also offer some courses like Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering and Information Technology. 3

2.3 FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE GROWTH OF TEXTILE INDUSTRY IN ICHALKARAN JI: 2.3.1 NATURAL: The town is situated in the filled up valley of River Puchganga. To the south west and north west of the town there are vast lands of black cotton soil, to the west of the town, vast land 28 consisting of hard murum and hard rock [Deccan trap] are seen which are good for building purposes. The town Ichalkaranji being situated in the rain shawos ares, is comparatively dry and has a moderate rain fall. The dry climate is very suitable for textile Industry.

2.3.2. FARSIGHTEDNESS OF NARAYAN BABASAHEB GHORPADE (1892-1943) Narayanrao Babasaheb Ghorpade was farsighted and enlighted Jaghirdar of Ichalkaranji. He ruled Ichalkaranji ably form 1892 to 1943 Babasahebs role in the growth and development of textile industry was of vital importance. He was the man who laid the foundation stone of this industry in Ichalkaranji,. People started manufacturing coloured on powerlooms. Ichalkaranji saris became famous all over . Thus Ichalkaranji city become Manchester of Maharashtra and the credit for it goes to Narayanrao Babasaheb. 4

2.3.3. PIONEERING PERSONS : In Ichalkaranji, the first powerloom was set up by late Mr. Vitthalrao Datar. This modest beginning later developed into thousands of powerlooms, and the city came to be known as the Manchester of Maharashtra. 5

2.3.4. ARRIVAL OF THE MARWARI MERCHANTS : The powerloom industry as such came to be firmly and securedly established in the 1930s because the arrival of the Marwari merchants was helpful to the progress of the industry. The town Ichalkaranji did not have had any advantages of the 29 usual locational factors such as the availability of raw materials transport facilities, power supply and even skilled labour, to some extent banking facilities, trading services etc. It was the initiative resourcefulness and entrepreneural skill of the local people assisted by the Marwari [trading community] with their financial resources, business links and rich marketing experience and supported by the encouragement. The Marwari merchants possessed capital, commercial connections and experience of marketing. Thus, in spite of the depressed economic condition elsewhere the powerloom industry at Ichalkaranji was making slow but steady and sustained progress, both quantitatively and qualitatively.6

2.3.5 CO-OPERATIVE MOVEMENT: The Co-operative movement is responsible for the growth of the powerloom industry in Ichalkaranji. The Ichalkaranji powerloom industry receives considerable support form the organized co-operative movement, co-operative , co­ operative processing and co-operative banks provide a strong infrastructural support of the powerloom activity. The co-operative movement today not only provides financial assistance to the weavers and entrepreneurs but also helps in matters pertaining to marketing raw material supply as well as technical know-how. It is a matter of pride therefore for citizens of Ichalkarnji to mention that, this small town has played an important role in spreading message of co-operative movement in

Maharashtra.7 30

2.3.6. REPLACEMENT OF HANDLOOMS : Ichalkaranji, just a village with little industry at the turn of the century, expanded steadily after a local prince began to entice handloom weavers. In Ichalkaranji, fly-shuttle looms were being replaced by locally manufactured handlooms, called 'automatic looms', with take up motion attachment. As a result the weavers now began to produce more cloth, earn more and further invested their savings for expansion of the additional business. 8

2.4. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF POWER-LOOM INDUSTRY IN ICHALKARANJI CITY: The rapid progress of the powerloom industry in Ichalkaranji did not take place suddenly, several factors are responsible for that. For the development of the powerloom business, not only the powerloom owners but also the labourers put in their efforts. The first powerloom was set up by Late Vitthalrao Datar in 1904 in Ichalkaranji. The year 1904 marks an important landmark in the development of the industry in Ichalkaranji. It was certainly a risky venture to set up powerlooms in an out of the way place with no facilities for processing the grey cloth and for repairs of machinery. And yet, he struggled on in the face of great odds, until the general prosperity of the first world war created a favorable climate for the experiment to succeed. The war-time, success was assured by the rise in cloth prices. The success, however, was a short-lived one as the experiment of manufacturing gray cloth did not survive the depression that followed the end of the war. The main factors responsible for the failure of this experiment to manufacture gray cloth were the dependence on the outside supply 31 of yam, with consequent increase in its price and the absence of processing facilities. The small unit could not have the advantages which the large unit could hope to enjoy in these respects.

2.4.1. DEVELOPMENT FROM 1925-1934: This period witnessed the slow but steady development of the poweloom sector. The expansion of the powerlooms sector in terms of output, if not of size, completely overshadowed the handloom sector during this period. It was during this period that Ichalkaranji shot up into prominence as a flourishing weaving centre. The transformation of the weaving industry. Powerloom as well as handloom, was of so redical and revolutionary nature, that the weaving industry of this period could hardly seem to have anything. In common with the old handloom industry. By 1934 the weaving industry in general and the powerloom industry in particular had come to acquire a respectable place in the life of the town.

2.4.2. THE BEGINNING OF WORLD WAR - II: The out break of world war II brought about significant changes in the size, character and condition of the industry. By about the middle of 1942, the prices and consequently profit margins of industries began to show significant increases. Many people set up new powerlooms and handlooms. Although no accurate figures of handlooms and powerlooms relating to the war period were available, a rough idea of the extent of expansion could be had from some figures relating to certain years during this period. The number of handlooms and powerlooms in Ichalkaranji in 1945-46 was 1940.9 32

2.4.3. THE IMPOSITION OF EXCISE DUTY: The Central Government imposed excise duty on powerloom industry on 18th may 1955. Which may be regarded as a turning point in the whole history of development of powerloom industry at Ichalkaranji. A number of middlemen and merchants entered the business of purchasing yam, preparing warp beams, supplying them to powerloom owners, undertaking the responsibilities of marketing the finished product and paying the powerloom owners a fixed rate per yard of woven cloth. Thus a new class of master weavers came into existence. The system of middlemen [Dalala now known as Pedhiwalas] between the producer and the actual consumers simplified the organisation of the industry. There was no trouble or risk involved in the purchase of raw material i.e. and the marketing of goods, nor was there any working capital required for mnning the industry. This simplification of the whole process of carrying on the industry attracted a large number of people into the industry v The of result had been rapid and substantial growth of the industry. The number of powerlooms which was estimated to be about 1,800 in 1957 has increased to a little over 6,000 in 1962. The small powerloom owners although exploited by the master weavers were prepare to carry on their production activities under the master weavers, because it was the only alternative to close down their production activities. Some of the powerloom owners had started to think of dispensing with their dependence on the middlemen for the purchase of yam requirements and for the marketing of the goods. 10 "The following table showing quantitative growth of the powerloom industry at Ichalkaranji". [1950-51 to 2006] 33

Table No.2.1 Quantitative growth of the powerloom industry at Ichalkaranji

Sr. No. Year Number of Growth powerlooms Rate 1 1950-1951 2,000 100 2 1955-1956 5,000 150 3 1960-1961 8,000 60.00 4 1965-1966 12,000 50.00 5 1970-1971 15,000 25,00 6 1975-1976 20,000 33.33 7 1980-1981 30,000 50.00 8 1981-1982 43,000 43.33 9 1982-1983 45,000 4.65 10 1983-1984 50,000 11.11 11 1984-1985 53,000 6.00 12 1985-1986 56,000 5.66 13 1986-1987 60,000 7.14 14 1989-1990 80,000 33.33 15 1993 1,00,000 25.00 16 2002 75,000 -25 17 2006 1,15,000 53.33 Source : The table is compiled on the basis of data obtained form the office of the Ichalkaranji powerloom weavers Co­ operative Association Ltd. Ichalkarnji.

According to the statistics collected by the powerloom weaver's co-operative association, ltd. Ichalkaranji, the number of powerlooms in 1950 was 2000. During the first ten years of our study :1950-51 to 1960-61], The number of powerlooms installed 34 increased by four fold. The industry seems to have recorded on impressive quantitative growth during 1960s and 1980s the number of powerlooms a little less than doubted form 8000 powerlooms [1960-61] to 15,000 powerloom [1970-71]. During the 1970s the number of powerlooms exactly doubted from 15,000 [1970-71] to 30,000 [1980-81] and by the end of 1986-87 again the number doubted and goes to 60,000 powerlooms. Looking from the view point of quantitative growth the Ichalkamji town come to be described by some "The Manchester of the Maharashtra". During the 1986-1987 number of powerlooms exactly doubted from 60,000 to 10,000 [1993]. In the year 2002 the number of powerlooms decreases because of recession in Textile industry. In this period many powerloom owners were closed their looms of unlimited period. Some small powerloom owners were sold their looms is small pricess. In the year 2006 the industry seems to have recorded on impressive quantitative growth there are 1,15,000 powerlooms in 2006 in Ichalkaranji, The number of powerloom is rapidly increasing in Ichalkaranji. An important characteristic of the powerloom industry in Ichalkaranji is that more than 80% powerlooms are owned by the common people who have looms upto four. Once, Ichalkaranji was a small village, but in 20th century, due to the textile industry, this city has been fast growing in all directions. Along with the growth of textile industry, the trade and commerce in Ichalkamji progressed by leaps and bounds. Ichalkaranji is not only a textile city but it is also culturally a well developed city. The number of labourers in the city is very large, like Textile Industry. Trade Union and unrest of labourers, their 35 problems and strikes are a common picture of the daily life of Iehalkaranji now-a-days.

REFERENCE : 1) w.w.w.fibre2fashion.com. 2) w.w.w.incluster.inabout-ichalkaranji 3) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ichalkaranji 4) Sutar A. M. : Babasaheb Ghorpade Ichalkaranjikar and Sahakal Chahval, . 1980. 5) Kadam T. V. : 'Socio-economic Study of Women Workers in Powerloom Industry in Iehalkaranji. (1995) 6) Pawar M. S. : a Study of Trade Union Movement in Iehalkaranji with special reference, Intue and Citu othesis M. Phil Thesis, Kolhapur.(1990) 7) Deshpande Shrikant : 'Study of Problems of the Decentralized Sector of the Textile Industry in Iehalkaranji, Ph. D. Thesis, Shivaji University Kolhapur. (1993) 8) w.w.w.past.oxfordjournals.org. 9) Naik Chandravadan - "History of Iehalkaranji City" Suchita Publishers, Iehalkaranji. (Nov.-2006) 10) Rajage A. B. - "The Problems and Prospects of Decentralized Powerloom Industry with special reference to Iehalkaranji. M.Phil Thesis submitted to Shivaji University Kolhapur.(1988) 11) Information collected from the Iehalkaranji Powerloom Weavers Co-op. Association Ltd.

\