Cotton Cultivation and Trade in Vidarbha up to 1947 S
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Vidyabharati International Interdisciplinary Research Journal 11(2) 13 5 - 1 4 0 ISSN 2319-4979 COTTON CULTIVATION AND TRADE IN VIDARBHA UP TO 1947 S. Meshram1 and A. D. Fulzele2* 1Department of History, R.T.M. Nagpur University, Nagpur, Maharashtra (India) 2Department of History, Dr.Ambedkar College, Deekshabhoomi, Nagpur, Maharashtra (India) [email protected] ________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT Present research unveils various aspects of cotton cultivation and trade during British rule over India. British Government's motive behind the cotton cultivation is meticulously discussed in the present research. It illuminates East India Company's vested interest in encouraging cultivation and production of cotton in India. The company aimed at establishing their monopoly across the world in cotton production. Company's policies regarding cotton production and experiments carried out to improve the production level are also illustrated in the present research. ________________________________________________________________________________ Keywords: Cotton, Vidarbha, Central Province & Berar, British, East India Company, Cotton Trade and Cultivation, Monopoly. Introduction also came under British rule and merged with One great staple for which India is famous the Central Provinces. This new province was since times immemorial is cotton. Even before called Central Provinces and Berar. India came into contact with western To Bombay must be assigned the credit of civilization, she was known to the outside priority in attempts at agricultural world as a great cotton producing country, and improvement. Cotton, as the most important her cotton fabrics of fine art, especially Decca crop of the Presidency and one of special muslins and Calico, had obtained worldwide interest to East India Company, first came into reputation as products of excellent home prominence in 1788. The Directors of the spinning (Cotton Department, 1920,1). “…Its Company felt that encouragement should be hundred millions of inhabitants are clothed in given to its production and improvement but home-grown cotton, in the hot weather and in the experiments to this end which were carried the rains, in calicoes and muslins, and in winter out during the next hundred years had little in an additional quantity, for their calico coats effect on the bulk of the crop. In 1839, the are padded with cotton. At night, they lie on court of Directors sent out 12 American beds and pillows stuffed with cotton and, planters to teach the local cultivators how to instead of blankets, they cover themselves with grow and clean cotton (Royal Commission, quilts of calico padded with the same material. 1928,21). It has been said that “Messrs Mercer In place of doors and windows, they hang up and Blound, two of the American planters, curtains padded with cotton. Awnings and have contributed so much to the improvement carpets, tents and tent ropes, the covering of of cotton in India” (32), but Mr. Eugene C carriages, the housings of elephants and the Schrottky wrote one another name, “…Mr. halters of horses, are all made of cotton…” Login to whom we are deeply indebted for his (Royal, 1851,18). Thus, Mr. J. Forbes Royle trouble in introducing the Egyptian method of wrote about the use of cotton in day to day life cotton cultivation into India…” (Schrottky, of the common Indian man. 1876, 276). The Vidarbha region consists of eight districts, In 1793, the company sent to India the newly- namely, Akola, Amravati, Buldhana, Yeotmal, invented Whitney Saw Gin to quicker and Wardha, Nagpur, Bhandara and Chandrapur. improves cotton ginning (Nanjundayya, et al., The first four districts were collectively known 1960, 279). The British did another thing to as Berar. These were under the dominion of the improve cotton cultivation in these districts. Nizam. At time, the other four were under the They distributed exotic seeds to the cultivators. East India Company and were known as At the end of 1857, four and half bags of Central Provinces. In 1903, the Berar districts Egyptian seed were sent from Government of Dec. 2020 135 www.viirj.org Vidyabharati International Interdisciplinary Research Journal 11(2) ISSN 2319-4979 India to Colonel Davidson. This information is land on contract was started. In these matches, contained in Colonel Davidson’s report of 18 some of which attracted thousands of people, May 1860. Another report dated 17 March the working of tractors and tractor ploughs was 1860 was given by the Assistant Commissioner also demonstrated whenever possible. Many regarding experiments with exotic seeds in landholders were now convinced that without West Berar. He wrote: “…The following iron ploughs, a reasonably high standard of descriptions of cotton seed were received for tillage was impossible (Central Province & experiment in this district: Brazilian, Egyptian Berar Government, 1924, xxix). It has been – from Government of India; New Orleans – reported that the policy of extending popular from Manchester Cotton Supply Association; knowledge of improved methods by practical New Orleans – from Dharwar. …I have further demonstrations, by lantern lectures, by satisfied myself by testing the seeds at different agricultural shows and distributing literature periods, the result being alike in every instance was being steadily pursued, meetings of and I am, therefore, of the opinion that the agricultural associations and agricultural shows whole supply had lost its germination quality were well-attended, the number of books and and hence its complete failure in every part of leaflets, dealing with agricultural subjects, sold the district.” (Cassels, 1862, 212). during the year 1922-23 was as great as in the An agricultural survey of the cotton tracts by previous year (xxix). The major impetus to district agency began in 1861. A Cotton cotton cultivation in India, however, came Commissioner was appointed for Central from the American Civil War. During the war, Provinces & Berar in 1866-67. He England and European countries did not get the experimented both with exotic varieties of supply of American cotton. Therefore, they cotton and with the indigenous varieties and focused on Indian cotton. Due to that ‘…within endeavored to introduce the cultivation of the last six decades, much improvement has cotton in tracts in which it was then unknown been made in the systematic cultivation of (Royal Commission, 1928, 26-27). The record Indian cotton…’, had been said (Cotton of these attempts is, however, that of a series of Department, 1920, 1). failures due to lack of knowledge of climatic This sudden and unprecedented increase in conditions suitable to the growing of cotton, demand resulted in an abnormal rise in prices lack of skill on the part of the cultivators and of all cottons in India. In Vidarbha, for lack of efficient supervision by government example, the average price of unginned cotton (26-27). at the Wardha market during 1856-60 was In 1888-89, an agriculture training program for about Rs 19 per khandi (784 lbs). During 1861- land records and revenue staff was opened at 65, the price increased to an average of Rs 56 Nagpur (27). With the advent of East India per khandi, that is, an increase of about three Company in India and the establishment of times over the price during 1856-60 British rule, cotton growing and cotton industry (Khandewale, 1971, 7). got a real impetus. In former years, the price of Hinganghat cotton The continuous efforts from Government of at Liverpool had been up to 25 dollars (Morris, India were going on from time to time like, the 1867, ix). Now the Berar farmers began to model seed farm which was opened at import food grains from Chhattisgarh, Hinganghat was soon closed but another farm Jabalapur, Khandesh and Malwa, so that all which was opened at Nagpur, an area available land might be devoted to the commanded by tank irrigation (27). Before profitable cotton crop (Govt. of CP & Berar, this, irrigation was not employed in the district 1921-22, 44). for cotton cultivation. It was considered During the 18th century, the British textile prejudicial to the plant and the natural rain is industry was largely dependent upon long sufficient (Cassels, 1862, 197). In the period of staple cotton but due to the civil war, the 1922-23, in the region, ploughing matches supply of raw cotton from USA was stopped. were organized and the system of ploughing Therefore, the East India Company tried to Dec. 2020 136 www.viirj.org Vidyabharati International Interdisciplinary Research Journal 11(2) ISSN 2319-4979 develop India as an alternative source. Thus, be channelized through the port of Bombay. the trade in raw cotton between India and The foreign demand offered better England began and increased gradually (Cotton opportunities to Vidarbha cotton. Since Department, 1920, 1). Vidarbha was occupying a prominent place As the European countries’ demand was among the regions supplying cotton to mainly for short staple cotton, a significant Bombay, it was natural for the government to change occurred in the varieties of cotton give priority to Vidarbha in the construction of grown in Vidarbha. Within a decade (the railway line for connecting it to Bombay. The 1870s), the region abandoned the cultivation of emergency created by the American Civil War finer varieties like Hinganghat and came to expedited the construction of railway. Thus, specialize in the production of acclimatized between 1863 and 1867, nearly all the inferior but high yielding varieties. Vidarbha important cotton markets in Vidarbha were became a principal producer of short staple connected by railway with the port of Bombay. cotton (Khandewale, 1971, 9). Following the railway, many Indian and foreign cotton traders entered Vidarbha and The cotton markets in Berar were established directly exposed this region to international and administered under the Berar Cotton & demand (Khandewale, 1971, 67-68). Grain Markets Law 1897, and the rules framed thereunder (Nanjundayya, et al., 1960, 271). The revolutionary change came with the setting This was the first attempt towards regulating up of hydraulic cotton pressing factories which the commodity markets in India.