ঔপনিবেশিক আমলে বীরভূম জেলার শিল্প : একটি ঐতিহাসিক পর্যালোচনা (১৮৫৫-১৯৪৭)/ Industries of Birbhum District in the Colonial Period: A Historical Reviews (1855-1947)

Abstract

Birbhum district in colonial Bengal sustained a diverse array of cottage and small-scale industries from 1855 to 1947, harnessing local resources like silk, Tasar, iron ore, lac, hides, clay, and forest products. These sectors underpinned the rural pre-industrial economy, integrating artisanal skills with agriculture amid Permanent Settlement pressures and growing export demands. British policies favoring raw material extraction over local manufacturing caused stagnation, exacerbated by zamindari exploitation, fuel scarcity, technological lag, and competition from Manchester textiles and imported metals. Silk production remained prominent, especially post-1857 Revolt when local sericulture gained traction. Centers like Surul, Gunutia, Doyarki, Bhola, and Moudeshwar-to-Murarai produced thousands of handloom saris daily from 5,000–6,000 maunds of raw silk annually—a uniquely scaled household industry in India, though British merchants like John Chip's earlier networks influenced late-19th-century trade. Iron smelting persisted around Rampurhat in Belya, Narayanpur, Deucha (with 30 furnaces), and Ganpur, relying on local ore. British attempts, such as Barnes and Co.'s 1875 foundry, failed within years due to raw material shortages and costs, reducing operations to polishing scrap by the 1880s–90s, as documented in district gazetteers. Leather tanning thrived in Rampurhat and Nalhati, processing hides from cattle, wild animals, for regional markets. The lac industry, crucial for shellac, dyes, toys, and jewelry, continued via consolidated units like Erskine and Co.'s legacy from 1787, enduring 50–60 years into the early 20th century. Metal crafts in Dubrajpur, Nalhati, and Sainthia crafted brass utensils, scissors, and knives, while terracotta pottery flourished in rural households. This era's decline reflected colonial deindustrialization, pushing artisans toward agrarian labor—a precursor to post-1947 land reforms and agricultural shifts in Birbhum. Remnants like Kantha embroidery and Bakreshwar pottery highlight enduring cultural resilience.