Introduction
Human civilization began with the making of industry. Industry is the maker of the human civilization. Every object of our civilization is the making of industry. The fire, the utensils, the books, the writing-tools, the cloth, the shirts, the shoes, the umbrella, the conveyance and the carriages are the outcome of industry. Cottage Industry was the only industry known until the 18th century. Then came the machine industry. The machine industry would have totally ruined the cottage industry. But people liked to keep it alive as it has many virtues. So, Cottage Industry has thrived till now, though it cannot compete with the machines.
Definition
We should know what Cottage Industry is. Cottage Industry is that which can be done even in the cottages. Cottage Industry does not need big capital, massive buildings, monstrous machines and thousands of labourers. The blacksmiths, the goldsmiths, the potters, the braziers and the weavers do the Cottage Industry at their own places. Cottage Industry is also called home industry or handicraft.
Advantages
Cottage Industry has got many virtues. Any man at any place with a little money can do this Industry. Man can do things according to the order of the customer. Each particular thing can be made after special design which is different from the other. It is not possible in the machine. Because machine is to produce a large number of things at the same time. So, the Cottage Industry, the artisan gets the pleasure of finishing the article. It is not possible in the acute division of labour In the machines. The Cottage Industry is done in a peaceful and healthy atmosphere. But the machines work in a noisy Work in a and unhealthy atmosphere. The Cottage Industry makes the artisan self-dependent. But the machines make the people slaves of the capitalists The Cottage Industry has field for sculpture, art and embroidery. But the machines do not admit them. The war cannot destroy the Cottage Industry. But the machine is at the mercy of a little bomb.
Disadvantages
The Cottage Industry has certain disadvantages. It cannot produce things in a large scale. It cannot provide economy in buying and selling. It cannot make proper gradation of things. Things differ from one another. They are not accurate. So, they do not satisfy the choice of people. They do not meet the modern taste.
Conclusion
Cottage Industry can be modernized if the artisans make use of the light instruments and little electricity. They should form guilds to work on co-operative basis, so that they can thrive better. The Government is now giving protection to the Cottage Industry. The artisans should form guilds to utilise this facility. Cottage Industry is really noble. It serves the man, but the machine, rules over the man. Hand has made machines. But a thousand machines cannot make a hand. So, the artisans should bare their hands to keep up the Cottage Industry.
