For cotton dyed with polyfunctional reactive dyes, the initial faster rate of dissolution was followed by an extremely slow rate and the samples did not dissolve completely even after 24 hours. The initial rate of dissolution of cotton dyed with bifunctional reactive dyes was very slow and was followed by a higher rate and complete dissolution within 24 hours. In case of polyfunctional dyeing, the activation energy at the faster rate of dissolution was 7-8 Kcal/ Mole, suggesting that the disruption of hydrogen bond is the governing factor for dissolving the non-cross linked fraction. The extremely slow rate of dissolution involves disruption of crosslinks. The difference in the behaviors of poly and bifunctional reactive dyeing has been explained on the basis of higher alkali stability of the dye-fiber bond and the larger size of cross links in the former case. The method of application of dyes has also been found to have an effect on the extent of dissolution, as it influences the state of swelling of the fiber at the time of formation of crosslinks. -- AATA