What was the primary function of colonial cities like Calcutta, Bombay or Madras?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → They were the primary link for the export of raw materials to Britain and the import of manufactured British goods.
Option (3) They were the primary link for the export of raw materials to Britain and the import of manufactured British goods. — Correct. Coastal cities were favoured because from them primary commodities could be easily exported and manufactured goods cheaply imported. Colonial cities were the prime link between the economic centre in Britain and the periphery in colonised India: Bombay shipped India’s raw cotton, Calcutta exported jute to Dundee, and Madras sent coffee, sugar, indigo dyes and cotton to Britain.
NCERT (2025-26): “The Colonial Experience … Cities had a key role in the economic system of empires. Coastal cities such as Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai were favoured. From here primary commodities could be easily exported and manufactured goods could be cheaply imported. Colonial cities were the prime link between the economic centre or core in Britain and periphery or margins in colonised India.…” “The Colonial Experience …In British India for example Bombay was planned and re-developed so that by 1900 over three-quarters of India’s raw cotton were shipped through the city. Calcutta exported jute to Dundee while Madras sent coffee, sugar, indigo dyes and cotton to Britain.…” “1.2 Urbanisation and Industrialisation … In 1690, an English merchant named Job Charnock arranged to lease three villages (named Kolikata, Gobindapur, and Sutanuti) by the river Hugli in order to set up a trading post.…” |