Why did some sections of the handloom weaving industry in India manage to survive and even expand in the twentieth century despite competition from mill-produced cloth? Give three specific reasons.
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-26 13:42 · grounding rag
Model Answer
Handloom weavers survived and expanded because of the following reasons:
- Technological adoption: Weavers adopted the fly shuttle, which increased productivity and reduced labour demand. By 1941, over 35% of handlooms were fitted with fly shuttles.
- Specialised weaves: Mills could not imitate intricate designs and specialised products like Banarasi saris, Madras lungis, and handkerchiefs, so demand for these continued.
- Stable demand for fine cloth: Demand for finer varieties bought by the well-to-do remained stable even during famines and economic downturns, unlike coarse cloth.
Source: Chapter 4, Section 5.1 — Small-scale Industries Predominate
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Explanation
Examiners expect three distinct, specific reasons — one per mark. The key terms to include are: fly shuttle, specialised/intricate weaves (mills couldn't copy them), and stable demand for finer cloth. Avoid vague statements like "weavers worked hard." Each point should be crisp and factual, drawn directly from the passage.