The British East India Company bound Bengal’s silk weavers to its service, curbing their freedom to trade independently.

On 17 March 1769, the British East India Company forced Bengal’s silk weavers into exclusive service.

They could only work in Company factories and were barred from selling elsewhere.

Agents called gomasthas supervised the weavers, and loans forced them to sell at low prices.

The goal was to destroy Bengal’s finished textile industry and enrich Britain.
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