question_answer 8)

 In what ways was craft production in cities like Calcutta different from that in cities like Thanjavur?  

Answer:

Craft production in Calcutta: Craftpersons were not free to produce what they wanted. Instead they had to produce according to the demand of the East India Company. They were made to move into Black Towns established by the European companies. The only buyer of their products was the East India Company. They had to work on a system of advances which meant that they had to weave cloth which was already promised to European agents. Weavers no longer had the liberty of selling their own cloth or weaving their own patterns. They had to reproduce the designs supplied to them by the Company agents. Craft Production in Thanjavur: The crafts persons were independent. They were free to produce what they wanted. They usually lived close to temples. Hence they had to dearth of buyers of their products. Weavers were free to sell their own cloths. They could weave by their own patterns. They never needed to reproduce the same designs. Also, they didn't have to work on a system of advances.