industrialization is a process in which the economy is transformed from agricultural goods to
the manufacturing of goods and labour replaced by mechanized mass production. And the
period of Industrialization is called Industrial Revolution which started in the 19th century.
Industrial Revolution in India
Pre-Colonial Industrial India-
Before the British Rule, India known for its handicraft industry. In the whole world, the
Indian Industry was in demand. Various articles like wool, cotton, silk were famous inside
and outside the country. Industries are also famous for the good quality of jewellery made of
gold and silver, brass and bell-metal. In those days carving work in ivory, wood, stone, and
marble of India was in demand. India was known for its export and no other country at that
time produced such types of products that can be exchanged with Indian products. Because of
this Europe paid a large amount of money for purchasing those products. So, India is known
for its richness and established a well stable position in the world map.
Indian Industrialization under British Rule-
The traditional industry of India was in high demand. Then Britishers put their steps toward
India on one side and on another side in England passed two Acts in 1700 and in 1720 to
restrict on import of India cotton, silk, and other trade items by imposing heavy duties but
these measures did not give the desired result. After a long struggle, the British won two
important wars (1) Battle of Plassey (2) Battle of
Buxar.
And after these wars, foreign rule started in India then the phase of the deindustrialization of
India started. The motive behind deindustrialization was to make India an exporter of raw
materials and to sell British products at higher rates in the Indian market. They followed
Discriminatory tariff polls. Their primary objective was to develop the Indian industry in
such a way so they never compete with British Industry and always dependent on British
capital goods.
After 1850 new phase of India started because a large scale private industry of jute, cotton,
and silk established. The first jute industry started at Hooghly Valley at Kolkata in 1854. To
transport the goods easily from one place to another Railway started in India. First Rail starts
from Bombay to Thane in 1854. Then Britishers tried to establish the iron and steel industry
in 19thcentury which was set up in 1907 and the credit went to Jamshedji Tata and his son
Dorabji. The progress of India was increased day by day. The total number of factories
increased from 2936 in 1914 to 11,613 in 1939 and the number of workers engaged in them
increased from 9,50,000 lakhs to 17,50,000 lakhs.
During the Second World War a huge pressure faced by the Indian economy because India
played a major role in providing war materials without indulged in war. And this affects on
Industry because of excessive material produced for the war. It arose continuous deterioration
to machinery as there was no proper attention paid to them. After this Indian industry was in
great danger because of low production. Almost all industries registered for low output. Then
1947 marked as a serious threat to the nation.
Indian Industrialization after Independence-After the Independence condition of Industry was
disrupted. Industries ownership was in few hands, there was a short supply of technology and
educated workers. The biggest problem was the lack of capital. Private industrialists did not
have enough capital to open new industry and if they tried then there was very high risk
involved. So, in 1948 State played an important role to promote Indian industries by complete
control over the industrial sector.
Coal, petroleum, aviation, steel, etc have come under the control of State. After this Indian
Factory Act 1949 passed which laid certain rules like health safety, the welfare of workers,
and demarcating the spheres of the public and private sector.After this definite improvement
seen except in the case of two industries of steel and coal? Because of the lack of raw
materials. Then the government works for the infrastructure of the country by providing a
country with facilities like transport, rail, banking communication, etc because without these
facilities the economy never is improved. The government also decided to focus on the
capital goods industry for industrial development so this Mahalanobis Model came, which
deal with the development of heavy industries like a machine, chemical, electrical, etc. In
1955 Karve committee was made which advised for the promotion of small-scale industries.
And in 1977 Janata Government came with a new industrial policy. Its basic aim is to
increase employment and develop a small scale sector for rural development. In 1991 the
government again come back with a new industrial policy to increase international
competition.
India was not independent at the time of the first and second revolution but in the phase of the
third revolution India faced challenges of the disrupted economy and poor condition of the
industry. After that India emerged as the source for the global IT industry with the fastest-
growing e-commerce market also known for the world’s largest highly-skilled IT workforces
and one of the largest technology start-up sectors which open the gates for India to enter in
the fourth revolution.
Role of India for Fourth Industrial Revolution
It is a very big question that Indian industries come under the fourth revolution or not. Fourth
Revolution covers various technologies such as 5G technology, Internet of things (IoT),
robotics, artificial intelligence (AI). At this stage, a question arises that India will remain on
its past of caste, creed, religion or it prepares its citizens for vastly different future.
Technology like 3D printers for functioning organs, ocean harvested for food, autonomous
vehicles for parking space, artificial blood comes in India on one side and on another side it
changes the nature of jobs by providing more opportunities. More than half of the population
of India comes under the age of 27 and it now becomes the largest data consuming country
with the cheapest data rates. India constantly improving its rank on the Global Innovation
Index by moving up to 5 places to rank 57th in 126 countries. India soon achieves its aim by
emerging as a global power.
Conclusion
Industrialization is very important for the economic growth and development of the country
but it also affects our environment. It causes climate change, pollution (to air, water, land),
global warming, ozone depletion, various diseases. It increases the gap between rich and
poor. Many workers migrate from villages to the city which creates a problem in the stability
of the city. So, if we do not take proper steps to cure these problems then this industrialization
causes great destruction. To solve the environment and other problems it is the duty of the
government to frame such policies and schemes which balance the rapid industrialization.
