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Econ 397 MI: City, Industry and Labor in Colonial India Spring 2021

Professor Priyanka Srivastava Email: priyanka@history.umass.edu priyanka@econs.umass.edu

Class Schedule: -Tue: 10-11:15 AM Synchronous Zoom Class -Thu: Asynchronous Zoom Office Hours: Wed: 2:00-4:00 PM and by Appointment

Course Outline This course examines economic and social developments in India during the period of British imperialism with a specific focus on the histories and political economy of urban and industrial development, and factory and non-factory work. The course begins with broad discussions of the transformation engendered by colonial policies, which integrated India into a global imperial economy. We then discuss the makings of colonial cities, patterns of rural-urban migration, the beginnings and expansion of jute and cotton textile industries in the two most prominent industrial cities of British India—Calcutta and Bombay. We will examine the nature of social and economic inequalities in colonial cities, factory workers’ living and working conditions, and the features of urban class politics. We will conclude this course with a brief analysis of Indian economy in the post-independence period.

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Learning Goals: What can you Accomplish in this Class? Content: India now has more billionaires than almost anywhere in the world, behind only the United States and China. At the same time, India has more malnourished children than all of sub-Saharan Africa. How do we explain such contrasts? How far are current socioeconomic problems of India rooted in its history? What were the economic consequences of British colonialism in India? How did colonial policies impact the lives of common Indians? How did common people negotiate the challenges and opportunities they faced during the period of colonial rule? The content of this course provides insights into some of these questions. Focusing mainly on the eighteenth to the early twentieth century, you gain knowledge about the following:

• Why some global regions grew rich and some did not? • The history of British imperial rule in India and how imperial/colonial policies shaped the

economy and society of India. • How India’s integration into a global economic system during the period of British

colonial rule informed processes such as labor migration, urban development, industrialization, and class formation.

Skills:

• The study material and assignments are designed to enhance your skills of reading critically, absorbing information and putting together thoughtful, accurate responses on a about a range of course topics.

• Enhance the practice of formal writing. • Enhance your communication abilities by participating in group discussions and in

classes.

Remote Learning: What you Need to Know?

Classes: We will adopt a hybrid format, which means classes will be held both synchronously and asynchronously:

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• We have synchronous class meetings every Tuesday. In the “schedule of classes” section of this syllabus, I have clearly marked classes with ‘Sync’ and Async,’ please check and plan accordingly. Please make sure to have a reliable internet connection for synchronous classes.

• Class meetings are on zoom; links to synchronous zoom meetings are on Moodle.

• Class slides (if I am using power point) and zoom recordings will be posted on Moodle. If you miss synchronous zoom sessions, please make sure to view zoom recordings and complete your readings.

This course is designed for interactive and collaborative learning. I encourage you to read, think, reflect, and share your ideas freely with other members of your class even in a remote setting. Extensive use of Moodle is a way for us to maintain connections with each other. I will create Moodle forums where you can exchange your thoughts and resources related to the course. We will also use zoom chat and breakout room functions during our synchronous classes to discuss course themes and form a learning community. Office Hours: I will hold zoom office hours every week. Links to my zoom office hours will be posted on Moodle. Feel free to drop in to have a one-to-one meeting during these weekly office hours. In addition to my regular weekly office hours, I am also available to meet with you by appointment. So, please remember that I am here for you, just an email away!! We can try and maintain a live contact even in an online class format so, never hesitate to contact me.

Course Readings

Books to Purchase (Also available as e-books via Moodle)

• Tirthankor Roy, The Economic History of India, 1857-1947. Oxford University Press, 2006.

• Anthony Cox, Empire Industry and Class: The Imperial Nexus of Jute, 1840-1940. Routledge, 2015.

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Additional Readings: In addition to the above listed books, I will post a number of required readings from other sources on the course webpage on Moodle. Please visit this page regularly for updated information about the course and readings. Preparing for classes: You must try your best to complete readings for each class prior to synchronous zoom class meetings and before you view the asynchronous zoom recordings. Completing your readings means that you have not only literally read a piece, but that you have spent some time putting together your thoughts and questions about the readings and the subject, and how all of this relate to our class themes.

Assignments and Grades All assignments will be submitted via Moodle. Assignment dates are clearly specified in the “schedule for readings and assignment” grid below. Assignment deadlines are also marked on the Moodle calendar of this course.

• Homework: 30 points. Short reflective responses based on study material and lectures. There will be two types of responses: 1) Written responses (300-400 words); 2) Video/Audio responses of 5-7 minutes. These short exercises are meant to deepen our engagement with course material. I will post questions for these exercises on Moodle three-four days in advance.

• Midterm Examination: 20 points (Due on March 28). Consisting of short and long answers. You will have a five-day window to complete this assignment.

• Pandemics/Epidemics and the Urban Working Class: 20 points (Due on Apr 27). The period of British rule in India (1757-1947) was marked by frequent famines and epidemics such as bubonic plague of the late 1890s and the Spanish Flu of 1918-1920. These epidemics devastated Indian economy, especially the lives and livelihoods of colonial India’s urban poor. For this project, we will read couple of pieces on the epidemics/pandemics of colonial times and then compare and contrast it with the current pandemic (COVID-19) and how it has affected working class lives in India or the United States. More details will be provided in the assignment prompt.

• Final Essay Assignment: 20 points (Due on May 10). Two essay questions (4-5 pages

each). You will have one week to complete this assignment.

• Synchronous Class Attendance and in-class group exercises: 10 points

Class Policies Late Assignments: You must try your best to follow the assignment schedule and avoid late submissions. In case you are facing an extraordinary or unforeseen situation notify me in advance if possible, I will try my best to arrange makeup work for you. Feel free to submit late work if you have valid reasons for doing that. However, to be fair to punctual students (those

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who submit their assignments on time), assignments late by a week will be eligible for 80% of the original points. Attendance: I highly recommend attending all synchronous classes; it is important that you come for every class because we engage in many learning activities during class time. Should you need to miss a synchronous class for unavoidable reasons, please inform me via email. No points will be deducted for missing up to 3 classes. I will be glad to meet up with you during office hours and together we can try to make up for your missed classes.

Grading Scheme Overall letter grades for the course will be awarded according to the following scoring scheme: 95-100: A 90-94: A- 85-89: B+ 80-84: B 76-79: B- 75: C+ 71-74: C 65-70: C- 55-64: D 0-54: F

Accommodation Policy Statement The University of Massachusetts Amherst is committed to providing an equal educational opportunity for all students. If you have a documented physical, psychological, or learning disability on file with Disability Services (DS), Learning Disabilities Support Services (LDSS), or Psychological Disabilities Services (PDS), you may be eligible for reasonable academic accommodations to help you succeed in this course. If you have a documented disability that requires an accommodation, please notify me within the first two weeks of the semester so that we may make appropriate arrangements.

Academic Dishonesty

Since the integrity of the academic enterprise of any institution of higher education requires honesty in scholarship and research, academic honesty is required of all students at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Academic dishonesty is prohibited in all programs of the University. Academic dishonesty includes but is not limited to: cheating, fabrication, plagiarism, and facilitating dishonesty. Appropriate sanctions may be imposed on any student who has committed an act of academic dishonesty. Instructors should take reasonable steps to address

academic misconduct. Any person who has reason to believe that a student has committed academic dishonesty should bring such information to the attention of the appropriate course instructor as soon as possible. Instances of academic dishonesty not related to a specific course should be brought to the attention of the appropriate department Head or Chair. Since students are expected to be familiar with this policy and the commonly accepted standards of academic integrity, ignorance of such standards is not normally sufficient evidence of lack of intent.

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Schedule of Classes and Assignments This schedule and the topics covered are subject to change depending upon a variety of factors. Keep checking the course webpage on Moodle for any changes.

Date

Topics

Readings

Assignments/

Exercises 1. Introduction Sync Feb 2

Introductions

-Why are we in this class? What are your hopes and concerns regarding this course? -India: A brief overview of its history and people

Zoom breakout rooms

Async Feb 4

Colonial India and Modern Britain

-Aditya Mukherjee, “How Colonial India Made Modern Britain.” (Moodle) -Present-Day Connection: Short piece by Aparna Kapadia, “Hidden under Meghan Markle’s Givenchy veil was Britain bloody history of colonialism” (Moodle)

2. Global Economies: Britain and India, 1600-1800 Sync Feb 9

India and the Global Economy, 1600-1800

Parthasarathi, Why Europe Grew Rich and Asia did not? Ch.2 (Moodle)

In-class group exercise

Async Feb 11

Political Institutions and Economic Life

Parthasarathi, Why Europe Grew Rich and Asia did not? Ch. 3 (Moodle)

Oral responses (due on Moodle on Feb 12 by 5:00 PM) 6 points

Sync Feb 16

The British in India: From Traders to Rulers

-P. J. Marshal, “The British in Asia: From Trade to Dominion, 1700-1765.” (Moodle) - Parthasarathi, Why Europe Grew Rich and Asia did not? Ch. 4 (Moodle)

In-class group exercise

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3. Colonialism and the Indian Economy and Society Async Feb 18

Transition to Colonialism: An Overview

- Roy, Economic History of India, Ch. 2 -Selections from Karl Marx, Capital Vol 1 (Moodle)

Sync Feb 23

Agriculture and the Commons

- Roy, Economic History of India, Ch. 4 and 5 -Selections from R. P. Dutt, India To-day (Moodle)

Async Feb 25

Infrastructure and Financial Systems

-Roy, Economic History of India, Ch. 9 and 10

Short written responses (due on Moodle on Feb 26 by 5:00 PM) 6 points

Sync Mar 2

Population and Labor

- Roy, Economic History of India, Ch. 11 -Sunanda Sen, “Indentured Labour from India in the Age of Empire.” (Moodle) -Video: Life Stories and Experiences of Indentured Workers (Link available on Moodle)

-In class group exercise

Async Mar 4

“Modernization” or Impoverishment?

-Mike Davis, “India, the Modernization of Poverty” in Davis, Late Victorian Holocausts: El Nino Famines and the Making of the Third World. pp. 311-340 (Moodle) -Nirmala Banerjee, “Working Women in Colonial Bengal: Modernization and Marginalization.” (Moodle) -Optional Reading: Excerpts from Amartya Sen, Poverty and Famines

4. Urban Development, Patterns of Rural-Urban Labor Migration Sync Mar 9

Urban and Commercial Development: Bombay and

-Amar Farooqui, “Urban Development in a Colonial Situation: Early Nineteenth Century Bombay.” (Moodle) -A K Bagchi, “Wealth and Work in Calcutta” in Capital

-In class group exercise

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Calcutta

and Labor Redefined (Moodle)

Async Mar 11

Rural-Urban Labor Migration

Gill Yamin, ‘The Character and Origins of Labour Migration from Ratnagiri District 1840-1920.’ (Moodle) -Arjan De Haan, “Unsettled Settlers: Migrant Workers and Industrial Capitalism in Calcutta.” (Moodle)

Sync Mar 16

Gender and Migration

-Samita Sen, “Without his Consent” (Moodle)

Async Mar 18

Work on your Midterm Examination; due on Moodle by Fri, March 19, 5:00 PM

5.Industry and Labor in Imperial Cities Sync Mar 23

Large-Scale Industry: An Overview

- Roy, Economic History of India, Ch.7

Async Mar 25

Textile Mills of Bombay

-R Chandavarkar, The Origins of Industrial Capitalism in India, Ch. 6 (Moodle)

Oral responses (due on Moodle on March 26 by 5:00 PM) 6 points

Sync Mar 30

Textile Mills: Laboring Conditions

-R Chandavarkar, The Origins of Industrial Capitalism in India, Ch. 7 (Moodle)

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Async Apr 1

Jute Mills: The Imperial Nexus

Cox, Empire, Industry, and Class, “Introduction” and Ch. 1-2

Short written responses (due on Moodle on Apr 2 by 5:00 PM) 6 points

6. Working Class Lives in Colonial Cities Sync Apr 6

Industrial Housing in Bombay

-Radha Kumar, “City Lives: Workers’ Housing and Rent in Bombay.” (Moodle)

-In-class group exercise

Async Apr 8

Working Class Neighborhoods

-Chandavarkar, The Origins of Industrial Capitalism, Ch. 4 (Moodle)

Oral responses (due on Moodle on Apr 9 by 5:00 PM) 6 points

Sync Apr 13

Epidemics and the Working Classes

-Prashant Kidambi, “An Infection of Locality: Plague, Pythogenesis, and the Poor in Bombay, 1896-1905” (Moodle)

-In-class group exrcise

Async Apr 15

Epidemics and the Working Classes

-Reading: Not yet Determined

Tue Apr 20: No Class

7. Labor Unions and Collective Actions Async Apr 22

Working Class Politics: Broader Connections

Cox, Empire, Industry, and Class, Ch. 4 and 6

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Sync. Apr 27

Labor Movement and Productivity: Critical Perspectives

-Susan Wolcott and Gregory Clark, “Why Nations Fail: Managerial Decisions and Performance in Indian Cotton Textiles, 1890-1938.” (Moodle)

Pandemic and the Working-Class Assignment is due on Apr 27 by 9:00 AM

Async. Apr 29

Labor Movement and Productivity: Critical Perspectives

-Bishnupriya Gupta, “Wages, Unions and Labor Productivity: Evidence from Indian Cotton Mills.” (Moodle)

8. Concluding Discussions: Post-colonial India Sync. May 4

Post-Independence Indian Economy: Some Features

-Roy, Economic History of India, Ch. 12 -Deepankar Basu, “Nehru to Modi” (Moodle)

In-class discussions

Final Essays Due by Mon, May 10

Have a Great Semester!!