CUET Preparation Today
When the British took over Indian states, towns like Thanjavur, Dhaka and Murshidabad declined mainly because: |
Their traditional industries were destroyed by cheap imports from Britishers British administrators discouraged all forms of artistic and cultural activities in these towns Their population shifted entirely towards newly developed industrial cities The loss of royal courts reduced patronage for artisans and court gentry |
The loss of royal courts reduced patronage for artisans and court gentry |
The correct answer is Option 2: The loss of royal courts reduced patronage for artisans and court gentry. When British rule replaced many Indian states, towns dependent on royal courts lost their main sources of support. Artisans, craftsmen and court officials who depended on royal patronage were affected. NCERT: In India the impact of the very same British industrialisation led to deindustrialisation in some sectors, and decline of old urban centres. Just as manufacturing boomed in Britain, traditional exports of cotton and silk manufactures from India declined in the face of Manchester competition. This period also saw the further decline of cities such as Surat and Masulipatnam while Bombay and Madras grew. When the British took over Indian states, towns like Thanjavur, Dhaka, and Murshidabad lost their courts and, therefore, some of their artisans and court gentry. From the end of the 19th century, with the installation of mechanised factory industries, some towns became much more heavily populated. |
