<p>Industrial technology introduced by the colonial government in India resulted in the de-industrialization of Indian industries. However, this was not the case with all industrial technologies. Rice milling, which came as an advanced technology over the indigenous hand-pounding, affected hand-pounding but did not disturb the rural economy as hand-pounding was an auxiliary occupation. Rice de-husking evolved from simple hand-pounding to mechanized milling with some regional variations. It did not face much opposition like that of mechanized spinning and power looms. It was quickly accepted as it offered opportunities to the newly emerged peasant capitalists mostly from the upper and forward castes. Modern irrigation projects created by colonial engineers such as Sir Arthour Cotton provided a positive environment for the phenomenal increase in paddy cultivation, and thus, rice milling became essential. This paper offers an understanding of rice milling as an everyday small technology and its connections with culture and rural economy through a focus on the introduction of industrial technology, technology-induced changes, industrial policy of the government, and ruptures between indigenous and western technology.</p>