Which city is called the 'Manchester of India'?

Ahmedabad, the largest city of Gujarat, is known as the "Manchester of India" because of its large cotton textile industry. Manchester, in England, was the world's leading centre of cotton textile manufacturing during the Industrial Revolution, so cities with large textile industries came to be compared to it.

The first cotton mill in Ahmedabad was set up by Ranchhodlal Chhotalal in 1861. By the early 20th century, Ahmedabad had dozens of textile mills. Several factors helped the industry grow:

Nearness to cotton-growing areas of Gujarat and Maharashtra, which have black soil suited to cotton.

A humid climate, which helps in spinning, because yarn breaks less in moist air.

Availability of capital from local merchants and traders.

Cheap labour and a large market.

Access to ports, such as Kandla and Mumbai, for importing machinery and exporting cloth.

Ahmedabad also has a special place in the freedom struggle. Mahatma Gandhi set up the Sabarmati Ashram there in 1917, and he led the Ahmedabad Mill Strike in 1918, his first hunger strike in India, on behalf of mill workers. The Textile Labour Association (Majoor Mahajan Sangh), founded with his inspiration in 1920, is one of the oldest trade unions in India. In 2017, Ahmedabad became India's first UNESCO World Heritage City.

Other similar nicknames:

• Kanpur is called the "Manchester of the East" or "Manchester of North India", known for textiles and leather.
• Coimbatore is called the "Manchester of South India".
• Mumbai is called "Cottonopolis" because of its textile mills.
• Surat is called the "Diamond City" and the "Silk City" of India.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Kanpur is called the "Manchester of the East".
• ✗Surat is known as the "Diamond City".
• ✗Coimbatore is called the "Manchester of South India".