Economic exploitation of the country caused grave discontent that culminated in the Great Uprising of 1857. Examine this factor with reference to the following:

(a) Ruin of Trade and Handicrafts (Unhappiness of Indian Artisans and Craftsmen)

(b) Poverty of the Cultivators.

(c) Subordination of Indian economy to British interests (Making India an Agricultural Colony of British capitalism).

(a) The popularity of Indian textiles alarmed the policy-makers in England. They tried to ruin the trade and handicrafts of India in the following ways-

1. An act was passed in 1720 which prohibited the use of Indian silk and cotton in England.
2. Heavy duties on Indian silk and cotton textiles in Britain- 70% and 80%, respectively destroyed those industries.
3. On the other hand, British goods were imported into India at a nominal duty.
4. The consequences of these actions were that by the middle of the 19th century, export of cotton and silk goods from India practically ceased.
5. The arts of spinning and weaving which for ages had given employment to thousands of artisans became extinct.
6. Manufacturing towns of Dhaka, Murshidabad and Surat became helpless and desolate.

(b) The policies of the British impoverished the cultivators in the following manner-

1. The zamindars or landlords had so far been only revenue collectors.
2. They could keep a certain percentage of what they received from the peasantry.
3. But the Permanent Settlement of 1793 made the zamindars, the absolute owners of their estates.
4. They had the power to eject the cultivators for non payment of the dues.
5. The Permanent Settlement remained restricted to Bengal, Bihar and Odisha.
6. The Mahalwari system was prevalent in parts of Central India,the Gangetic valley and Punjab.
7. In Bombay Presidency and parts of southern India, the peasants continued to pay revenue to the government.
8. But the British revenue officers were strict in revenue collection.
9. Almost half of the net produce was claimed as land revenue.
10. Unable to pay land revenue, the farmers were driven more and more to borrow from the moneylenders.

(c) British exploited India and made it their Agricultural Colony in the following ways:

1. Bihar, Bengal and Awadh emerged as major producers of export crops such as jute, opium and indigo.
2. British companies managed this export trade.
3. The manufacturers in England required other raw materials also such as cotton and oilseeds for their industries.
4. After the industrial revolution, the British did all that they could to keep India mainly an agricultural country.
5. This made India an agricultural colony of British capitalism.