Stitchers: Fatima Khan, Salma Khan, Husnara Khan, Shahinda Jolil, Monti, Natasha Measome & Ishrat Measome – Edinburgh
Jute from Bengal had a wide range of uses once made into fibres, and the East India Company traded it in vast quantities through Kolkata. It was originally processed by hand until it was discovered that adding whale oil meant the process could be mechanised. In Dundee, where the whaling industry meant was ready access to the oil, the jute industry boomed in the nineteenth century, employing thousands and creating rich “Jute Barons”. The However, it was clearly cheaper to process the jute in Kolkata: by the end of the century many Barons had moved to India and become “Jute Wallahs”, undermining the mills in Dundee.
IN14 Diut: Bangladesh & Dùn Deagh
Bha raon farsaing de dh’fheuman air diut à Bengal aon uair ‘s gun robh e air a dhèanamh snàithleach, agus bha Companaidh nan Ìnnsean an Ear a’ malairt meudan mòra dheth tro Kolkata. Aig an toiseach bhathar ga ghiullachd air làimh gus an d’ fhuaireadh a-mach gum faodadh am pròiseas innleachadh le bhith a’ cur ola muic-mhara ann. Ann an Dùn Deagh far an cothrom air an ola fhaotainn, dh’fhàs gnìomhachas an diut gu àirde anns an naoidheamh linn deug, a’ toirt obair do mhìltean agus a’ cruthachadh “Barain Diut” a bha làn airgid. Ach bha e mòran nas saoire diut a ghiullachd ann an Kolkata: bha mòran de na Barain air gluasad do na h-Ìnnseachan ro dheireadh na linne, far an robh iad nan “Jute Wallahs”, a’ toirt mòran air falbh bho na muilnean ann an Dùn Deagh.