Bombay Cotton Mills: Origin, Decline and Re-development

By 1925, most of Mills were owned and managed by Indians, by then out of the fifty-three mills in the city only fourteen were British owned.

Two major international events led to a boost to the Indian cotton trade and the mill industry, the American Civil War and the Afghanistan War. During the four year long American Civil War the supply of cotton to Britain from Southern Coast of america stopped and in turn the British looked to India as a source of cotton supply. In Bombay many locals merchants became over night rich because of this trade including Premchand Roychand and other members of the Bhatia Community. At that time most of the cotton supply came from the Vidarbha region and Gujarat. In 1860s the American Civil War broke out which abruptly cut off the supply of cotton to Lancashire from southern American Coast and this supply gap was filled by Indian Cotton that was shipped off from the Bombay Coast. This brought surplus of cash to Bombay traders and suppliers.

During the outbreak of World War II in September 1939, a Defense of India Act was promugulated and cotton was placed under the Essantial Commodities Act and most of the cloth produced in the organised mills was reserved for military orders. The War period was an era of boom for the Mill industry. But then in 1948 with a new fibre 'Viscose' and in mid-fifties; synthetic fabrics such as nylon and polyster gave a competition to the cotton and cotton mills.

Mill Workers and Working Hours: Indian Factories Act, 1911 restricted the working hours to twelve every working day and in 1920, the hours were reduced to 11 per day and sisty each day. This was after the great mill strike which led to an amendment to the Indian Factories Act.

Woman Mill Workers: According to the study by Bunnet and Hurst into labour and housing, most of the women workers were employed in the waste room and in the ring spinning , reeling and winding departments of the Mills. The forewomen (floor incharge) were known as naikins.

y 1925, most of Mills were owned and managed by Indians, by then out of the fifty-three mills in the city only fourteen were British owned.

Two major international events led to a boost to the Indian cotton trade and the mill industry, the American Civil War and the Afghanistan War. During the four year long American Civil War the supply of cotton to Britain from Southern Coast of america stopped and in turn the British looked to India as a source of cotton supply. In Bombay many locals merchants became over night rich because of this trade including Premchand Roychand and other members of the Bhatia Community. At that time most of the cotton supply came from the Vidarbha region and Gujarat. In 1860s the American Civil War broke out which abruptly cut off the supply of cotton to Lancashire from southern American Coast and this supply gap was filled by Indian Cotton that was shipped off from the Bombay Coast. This brought surplus of cash to Bombay traders and suppliers.

Starting in 1856, the first Mill employed around 500 workers and by 1960s the number of workers rose to around 2 lakhs. From the very begining the workers came from Konkan region of Maharashtra and were joined in by from Satara, Kolhapur and even Uttar Pradesh.

During the outbreak of World War II in September 1939, a Defense of India Act was promugulated and cotton was placed under the Essantial Commodities Act and most of the cloth produced in the organised mills was reserved for military orders. The War period was an era of boom for the Mill industry. But then in 1948 with a new fibre 'Viscose' and in mid-fifties; synthetic fabrics such as nylon and polyster gave a competition to the cotton and cotton mills.

Mill Workers and Working Hours: Indian Factories Act, 1911 restricted the working hours to twelve every working day and in 1920, the hours were reduced to 11 per day and sisty each day. This was after the great mill strike which led to an amendment to the Indian Factories Act.

Woman Mill Workers: According to the study by Bunnet and Hurst into labour and housing, most of the women workers were employed in the waste room and in the ring spinning , reeling and winding departments of the Mills. The forewomen (floor incharge) were known as naikins.