textile industry in India before east India company
Answers
Background
Indian textile industry has been considered one of the finest textile industries of the world from ancient times. It is believed that India became the “golden sparrow” in the past because of this textile industry. The Romans did business with India and apparently gave equal number of gold coins to Indians in exchange with the weight of Indian textiles. Even in the times of Mugals and British, the textile industries of Dhaka, Malwa and Banaras were considered as world class and exported throughout the world.
Earliest known reference to textile manufacturing is in the Rig Veda. There is a story about Sage Gritsamada in the Second Mandala of Rigveda which says – Sage Gritsamada first sowed cotton tree and received some cotton from it. He then made one spinner to make thread out of this cotton and eventually he made cloth using this cotton. This is how Sage Gritsamada gave this idea of making cloths via cotton during Vedic period. Historically India has made cloths of silk and cotton, and even gold and silver lining has been used. Eventually Indian textiles captured the world market and ancient Greek, Egypt and Arab world became our buyers.