Explain the statement, “Certain groups of weavers were in a better position than others to survive the competition with industries.”

The weavers were divided on the basis of their success in business.

1. Only a few weavers were able to cope up with the increasing competition with industries. Some produced fine, intricate cloth while others preferred simple, coarse material.

2. The elite classes could afford to buy the fine cloth. As a result, the weavers who catered the higher classes flourished while the others perished.

3. The sales of silk sarees such as Banarasi and Kanjeevaram were not affected by plague or famines.

4. Mills could not provide the unique touches of handspun cloth.

5. The mill spun cloth could not compete with the standard of the saris with intricate borders, dhotis, lungis, and handkerchiefs of south India.

Hence, certain groups of weavers were in a better position than others to survive the competition with industries.