Yes, the traditional handicrafts industries were ruined under the British rule. The decline of the indigenous handicraft industries created not only massive unemployment in India but also a new demand in the Indian consumer market, which was now deprived of the supply of locally made goods.
The British imposed heavy duties on Indian handicrafts, so that they became more expensive than British woolen and silk manufacturers. They followed a policy of duty free export of raw materials and import of finished goods. Apart from these, Indian handicrafts had to face competition from machine made goods from Britain.
India could not develop a sound industrial base under the colonial rule. Even as the country’* world famous handicraft industries declined, no corresponding modern industrial base was allowed to come up to take pride of place so long enjoyed by the Indians.
The intention of British was to reduce India to the status of a mere exporter of important raw materials for the upcoming modem industries in Britain and to turn India into a market for their finished products of those industries, so that their continued expansion could be ensured to the maximum advantage of their home country.
