Explain: The East India Company appointed gomasthas to supervise weavers in India.
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Source: TextbookThe East India Company appointed 'gomasthas' to establish direct control over the weavers and eliminate competition. Before this, the Company had to compete with French, Dutch, and local merchants to procure cloth. By appointing gomasthas—paid servants who acted as supervisors and agents—the Company aimed to create a monopoly. The gomastha's role was to give loans (advances) to weavers to secure their production, preventing them from selling their cloth to any other buyer. They supervised the weaving process to ensure quality and timely delivery. However, these gomasthas were outsiders with no local social ties, and they often acted arrogantly, punishing weavers for delays, which led to frequent clashes with the villagers.
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