History of Cotton Trade in Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad, a city entwined through a legacy of textiles, an industry, a way of life that fueled growth through the early part of the twentieth century. The sometimes ornate, crowned floral patterns, marvels in architectural form, mills stacks, towers defining the aerials of the textile industry standing sentinel like in a jigsaw of connecting dots guarding belching alters of flame and energy.

Machinery and modernization spread form Bombay to Ahmedabad and Surat during the presidency years. Thus modernity came into force in conjunction with traditional forms and practices, each dovetailing within the other. This rapid expansion into the industrial era led to an ever-growing demand for cotton in a feeding frenzy of want and desire. This led to the Bombay Presidency taking a keen interest in the growing and trading of cotton through out the region under its control.

By the 1930s, India was the second largest cotton producing nation in the world after the United States. The Indian Institute of Agriculture’s report of 1935 lists India’s raw cotton exports as 12,553 thousand centals( a cental was usually equal to about a 100 pounds), apart from an equivalent domestic consumption. Thus Indian production had a large bearing on the fluctuating trade in International cotton. The main Indian trading centers of that period were Karachi and Bombay with Ahmedabad at the central nexus of the spidery web.

The East India cotton association was founded in 1922 controlling raw cotton trade with industrialists and prominent growers as members of the board. Indian cotton was known from the area of origin and accordingly named. Brisk trade took place in the markets of Bombay and Ahmedabad on a day to day clearance based on the delivery period. Surprisingly, Bharuch controlled a large part of the market and functioned as the price barometer. The prices of all other styles followed Bharuch or the Broach Bazaar as it was wont to be called then. The East India Cotton Association issued periodical statistics regarding cotton production.

The early twentieth century also saw the emergence of cotton strains developed keeping in mind soil conditions, rainfall patterns, topographical and social anthropological needs. The agricultural Institute published a study on soil conditions commissioned by the cotton trade, dividing the alluvial deposits in the North and South of Gujarat. The Northern tracts were called ‘Goradu’ and consisted of deposits brought down by the Sabarmati and Mahi. While the Southern tract, watered by the Narmada and Tapi was known as Kali. Deep alluvial deposits veined in by salt and sand egress around Ahmedabad made it admirably suited for the cultivation of closed bolled cotton called Waghad.

The Bombay department of agriculture was actively involved in developing suitable strains of cotton for the Kali or black soil tract of the Southern region. Navsari cotton was genetically modified and reintroduced in the regions around Surat to cotton growers as 1027ALF. This strain then was considered the finest of staple cotton capable of spinning between 34-40 counts of yarn. Strange varieties of flux in the markets also affected the quality and type of cotton production along with the constantly variable climatic conditions having an affect on the human socio political sensex.

Surprisingly by the mid 1930s that barometer of the national price index the Broach variety was more or less extinct. The gazette report of that period states that ‘the Nerbudda- Mahi zone which formerly used to grow the Broach variety had taken to growing an inferior short stapled but high ginning variant called ghoghari’. The ghoghari though could spin only 16 count of yarn. A wilt resistant strain capable of spinning upto 40 counts known as BD8 was evolved from the Bharuch desi cotton by the agricultural institute of Bombay for reintroduction into that region.

Thus the textile industry not only added impetus to urban growth but also wielded an active influence on the rural surroundings and emerging trade markets, further encompassing other materials and goods leading to an insidious command over the prosperity of the region.

Published:Ahmedabad Mirror