why did the indian iron smelting industry declined in the 19 century
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Iron smelting furnaces were most often built of clay and sun-dried bricks.
The smelting was done by men while women worked the bellows, pumping air that kept the charcoal burning.
When the colonial government prevented people from entering the reserved forests, the iron smelters could not find wood for charcoal to light the furnace.
Neither could they get iron ore. Many iron smelters had to give up their craft and looked for other means of livelihood.
By the late nineteenth century iron and steel was being imported from Britain. Ironsmiths in India began using the imported iron to manufacture utensils and implements.
This lowered the demand for iron produced by local iron smelters.
The smelting was done by men while women worked the bellows, pumping air that kept the charcoal burning.
When the colonial government prevented people from entering the reserved forests, the iron smelters could not find wood for charcoal to light the furnace.
Neither could they get iron ore. Many iron smelters had to give up their craft and looked for other means of livelihood.
By the late nineteenth century iron and steel was being imported from Britain. Ironsmiths in India began using the imported iron to manufacture utensils and implements.
This lowered the demand for iron produced by local iron smelters.
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