Japan K Pathak

In this first season of History series, I am republishing some carefully selected old reporting/articles of historical value, curated from over 100 years old records. Such articles though deserving, never got placement in any book, journal or even Google search engine through all these years.

Presented below is a news report published in a newspaper on 12 June 1861 about opening of the first cotton mill in Ahmedabad by Ahmedabad Spinning & Weaving Co. Ltd.

The mill was located in Shahpur area of city. The area is presently known as Shahpur Mill Compound. However, there’s not a single sign of a grand old mill existing anymore. The mill industry of Ahmedabad that started from here continued to dominate the economy and society of Ahmedabad for over 120 years.

It is interesting to see that an important event of maiden run of machine in the first cotton mill of Ahmedabad was marked with a dash of champagne (a kind of liquor).

The article mentions that at 1.15 pm the fly wheel (of Ahmedabad’s first mill) began to revolve (for the first time) on which  English lady Mrs. Edington, the wife of the Superintendent of the Mill, dashed a bottle of champagne at the moving machine.

Interestingly the machine was named as “Enterprize”. What a fitting word for enterprising Gujarati spirit that has been in display for ever.

This ‘dash of champagne’ is interesting because ‘dry state’ Gujarat has been under liquor prohibition for last many decades. If champagne was western style of celebrating the occasion, the event also witnessed usual distribution of pan soparee, flowers and rose water as per domestic customs.

The proprietors, as a token of their approbation of the valuable service of Mr. Edington, presented him with a purse of Rs. 300.

Read the original reporting published in a daily  in full text below:

Opening of the Ahmedabad Mill

Ahmedabad: Knowing the great interest you take in everything pertaining to the welfare of India, the pleasure with which you report progress on all occasions, I herewith send you an account of the opening of the first Cotton Mill at Ahmedabad, the capital of Gujarat.

This interesting event, with the naming of the steam engine, took place on Thursday last the 30th May, in the presence of the shareholders and a large assembly of their friends European and Native. Among the former I noticed Lieut Col. Montgomery, Dr. Wylise, Captains, Thatcher, Groabe, Frances, and Bell, Mesrs, Norman, Curtia, Jordan and King. Among the latter, all the principal Shets (Sheths) and Soucars (Shahukars) of the city, and the principal Government officials.

At 1.15 p.m. the Engine gave signs of life, the fly wheel began to revolve on which, Mrs. Edington, the wife of the intelligent Superintendent of the Mill, dashed a bottle of champagne at the moving monster, and amidst the hearty cheers of Englishmen, and the wondering gaze of natives, named the engine the “Enterprize.’

The Superintendent then conducted the party through the works, explaining to them the various parts of the spinning machinery, and the multitudinous operations the cotton goes through — it appears in the shape of yarn. Need I say that all were delighted at what they saw ; and that some though they saw, knew not whether to believe or not.

Leaving the Mill, the European portion of the party retired to the residence of the Superintendent, where, in many a bumper of sparkling champagne, liberally provided by the shareholders, they drank success to the “Ahmedabad Spinning and Weaving Company,” “health and prosperity to Mr. And Mrs. Edington, ” and discussed the subject of Cotton.

Dr. Wyllie spoke in high terms of the intelligence, industry , and perseverance, displayed by Mr. E. in overcoming the many difficulties he had to encounter in the erection of the machinery in a place where no skilled labour, of the kind required, was to be found.

Mr. E. gave a brief account of this labours since his arrival in Ahmedabad in January last. He was proud he said to receive the approbation of his countrymen ; he had determined to show the native of Ahmedabad what an Englishman can do ; he had been compelled to be his own Civil Engineer and almost his own practical machinist, and do many other things he had not been engaged to do. He had done his best, and was happy to say had so far succeeded.

In the meantime, the native gentry, assembling under a spacious canopy erected in a shady spot near the Mill, had their share of speechifying, and spun many a yarn on the subject of cotton. Rao Bahadoorr Choenilal, the Duftardar, spoke in high terms of the enterprise, intelligence and tact of Mr. Ranchodlal, one of the shareholders, and the manager of the concern, by whom the Company was formed and all arrangements for the machinery made. Mr. R. in reply said, that but for the entire confidence placed in him by the shareholders generally, and the kind assistance rendered him by them and the late Collectors of Ahmedabad, Mosers, Hadow and Rogers, his efforts would have been in vain ; that having overcome many difficulties he had every reason to hope that the enterprise they had embarked in would turn out a successful one.

Mr. Curtis then briefly noticed a few of the advantages to be derived from the establishment of Cotton Mills in Ahmedabad. Situated as it was in the centre of a cotton-growing district, with capital in abundance, and native merchants and gentry full of energy and enterprise, he could not see why, by the employment of European skill, they might not in a few years count by crores the capital invested in such factories as we have now the pleasure of seeing opened. The present one was an experiment ; the eyes of Bombay and of Manchester were upon them ; no let them be careful. they had the good fortune to obtain the service of a highly intelligent, painstaking, industrious, sober and well tried man as their Superintendent ; place confidence in him, and he was sure they would reap the benefit.

Much was being said and done just now about supplying Manchester with cotton from India. The people of Ahmedabad say, “Good, we will help you ; we will, also, if you have no objection (or even if you have) endeavour to assist you in another way by relieving you of a little of your work by spinning yarn for ourselves.

Mr. E. then introduced to the meeting a Portuguese lad named Manuel, his right hand, he said, in all he had done ; in fact, the only man on whom he had been able to depend in the erection of the machinery.

After the usual distribution of pan soparee, flowers, rose water, the meeting broke up, highly pleased with the afternoon’s proceedings, and one and all wishing success to the “Enterprise.” I understand that the proprietors, as a token of their approbation of the valuable service of Mr. Edington, have presented him with a purse of Rs. 300.