October

The Industrial Revolution which began in Britain in the latter half of the 18th century was driven by Britain's desire to take over the lucrative, global demand for hand-made Indian textiles. The invention of machines, chemical dyes and a factory system of production enabled British mills especially in the North West region of Lancashire, to mechanically spin and weave cotton textiles faster and more cheaply. As rulers of India at that time, Britain was able to force their own textiles (many imitating or inspired by India's floral, paisley and plaid designed calicos and chintzes) on India, whilst driving India's hand-crafted textile Industries into the ground.

Depicted in the medallion (right) is a scene representing the British execution in 1872 of a leader of the Kuka Movement of Punjab. Established by the Namdhari community of Sikhs, this anti-colonial movement advocated home-spun, hand woven cotton fabric (known as 'Khadi') and the boycotting of imported British textiles long before Gandhi's similar call in 1918, for Indians to revive their own cottage industries as a way of undermining the economic foundations of British rule in India. Represented in the same scene, is the Partition of Punjab in 1947. This traumatic consequence of Indian Independence caused the virtual demise of Phulkari textiles as a domestic handicraft - until its resurgence in more recent years as part of the developing fashion and home décor industries of free Independence India.