Who among the following Governor Generals of India wrote about the predicament of Indian weavers, “The bones of the cotton weavers are scattered on the plains of India”?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
The correct answer is option 3 i.e. Lord William Bentinck.
The statement about the plight of Indian weavers—“The bones of the cotton weavers are scattered on the plains of India”—was made by Lord William Bentinck, who served as Governor-General of India from 1828 to 1835. He was deeply concerned about the adverse effects of British policies on traditional Indian industries, especially the handloom weaving sector. The industrial revolution and British imports of machine-made textiles severely impacted Indian cotton weavers, leading to widespread poverty and suffering. Bentinck’s remark highlighted this grim reality and the economic distress faced by Indian artisans during colonial rule.
Incorrect Options:
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Lord Minto – Served earlier (1807–1813), not known for this quote or specific focus on the textile crisis.
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Sir John Shore – Governor-General from 1793 to 1798; not associated with this observation.
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Lord Amherst – Served from 1823 to 1828, mainly known for the First Anglo-Burmese War, not for commentary on Indian weavers.