2 INTRODUCTION 



the manner in which general principles operate in one 

 economic type are not necessarily true of their opera- 

 tion in another. 



When, therefore, we approach the study of the 

 economic phenomena of India, we must bear in mind 

 that we are about to deal with a type of industrial 

 organization which is not the type tacitly assumed in 

 most books upon abstract economics. From this it 

 follows that we shall not be at liberty to assume the 

 truth of any economic theory until we have assured 

 ourselves that the premises on which it rests are 

 satisfied by the Indian conditions. Our ultimate goal 

 ought to be the construction of an independent body 

 of economic doctrines which could be logically de- 

 duced from the observed facts of Indian society. I 

 do not think that the time has yet come when it is 

 possible to attempt a complete statement of the 

 economics of Indian industry ; the material at our 

 disposal is at present too scanty. Before constructive 

 speculation can be profitably undertaken the economic 

 facts of Indian life need to be collected, sifted, and, if 

 I may use such an expression, cross-examined to find 

 out exactly what interpretation they will bear. This 

 book is intended to be a contribution towards such a 

 collection of evidence. I shall attempt to sketch in 

 very meagre outline the industrial organization of a 

 particular province, and in so doing expose what I 

 believe to be the principal economic facts in a society 

 of this type. If this investigation could be made 

 complete, it should reveal the premises from which 

 the economics of Indian industry could be framed ; it 

 should make clear which of our current economic 

 doctrines are applicable to Indian society and which 

 are not. Strict logic would demand that this investi- 

 gation should be a plain record of fact, and should be 

 absolutely free from constructive speculation. But 

 unfortunately it is not easy to collect economic facts 

 without some bias of theory; the possibly relevant 



