Mughal Karkhanas

Indian workers making Cotton

Mughal karkhanas (Hindi: कारखाना, Karkhana, Karkana kārakhānā, Kar-kanyas, Qur khana, Urdu: کارخانہ ) were the manufacturing houses and workshops for craftsmen, established by the Mughals in their empire. Karkhana is a Hindustani language word that means factory. These karkhanas were small manufacturing units for various arts and crafts as well as for the emperor's household and military needs. karkhanas were named and classified based on the nature of the job. For example, 'Rangkhana' and 'Chhapakhana' were for textile dyeing and printing work.[1] The term 'tushak-khana' was used to describe workshops that made shawls and embellished them with embroidery or needlework.[2] Imperial or Royal Karkhanas were for luxury goods and weapons. The karkhanas were the place for various production activities and also for the exploration of new techniques and innovations. Some operations such as weaving, embroidery work, and brocade work were often done under one roof, resembling an integrated assembly line.[3][4][5][6][7][8]

  1. ^ Saxena, Rajendra Kumar (2002). Karkhanas of the Mughal Zamindars: A Study in the Economic Development of 18th Century Rajputana. Publication Scheme. pp. 69, 70, 63. ISBN 978-81-86782-75-0.
  2. ^ Mukherjee, Soma (2001). Royal Mughal Ladies and Their Contributions. Gyan Books. p. 86. ISBN 978-81-212-0760-7.
  3. ^ Verma, Tripta (1994). Karkhanas Under the Mughals, from Akbar to Aurangzeb: A Study in Economic Development. Pragati Publications. p. 34. ISBN 978-81-7307-021-1.
  4. ^ Raychaudhuri, Tapan; Habib, Irfan; Kumar, Dharma; Habib, Professor Emeritus History Irfan; Desai, Meghnad (1982). The Cambridge Economic History of India: Volume 1, C.1200-c.1750. CUP Archive. p. 180. ISBN 978-0-521-22692-9.
  5. ^ Young India. Navajivan Publishing House. 1929. p. 303.
  6. ^ Saxena, Rajendra Kumar (2002). Karkhanas of the Mughal Zamindars: A Study in the Economic Development of 18th Century Rajputana. Publication Scheme. pp. 16, 20, 159. ISBN 978-81-86782-75-0.
  7. ^ Khan, Sumbul Halim (2015). Art and Craft Workshops Under the Mughals: A Study of Jaipur Karkhanas. Primus Books. ISBN 978-93-84082-30-7.
  8. ^ Seth, Vijay K. (2017-09-29). The Story of Indian Manufacturing: Encounters with the Mughal and British Empires (1498 -1947). Springer. p. 50. ISBN 978-981-10-5574-4.