SWADESHI MOVEMENT

The Swadeshi movement was part of the Indian independence movement and contributed to the development of Indian nationalism. The movement, begun in 1906 by Indian nationals opposed to the Partition of Bengal, was one of the most successful movements against British rule. These movenets were the base of India Freedom Struggle which is part of UPSC mains GS paper 1.

TOPIC

Details of Swadeshi Movement
Major Leaders

DETAILS OF SWADESHI MOVEMENT

Launched in the early 20th century, the Swadeshi movement was a direct consequence of the British India government's decision to partition Bengal. The two main goals of this movement were the use of Swadeshi goods and the boycott of foreign-made goods.

Declaration of swaraj & beginning of swadeshi movement

The Swadeshi Movement had its genesis, in the anti-partition movement which was started to oppose the British decision to partition Bengal.
The Indian National Congress, meeting in 1905 under the presidency of Gokhale, resolved to
Condemn the partition of Bengal and the reactionary policies of Curzon
Support the anti-partition and Swadeshi Movement of Bengal

The militant nationalists led by Tilak, Lajpat Rai, Bipin Chandra Pal and Aurobindo Ghosh wanted the movement to be taken outside Bengal to other parts of the country and go beyond a boycott of foreign goods to become a full-fledged political mass struggle with the goal of attaining swaraj. But the Moderates, dominating the Congress at that time, were not willing to go that far.

However, aggressive nationalists forced Dadabhai Naoroji to speak of Swaraj (which was not a Moderate demand) in the Calcutta Session of Congress in 1906
The Extremist emboldened by Dadabhai Naoroji’s declaration gave a call for passive resistance in addition to swadeshi and boycott of foreign goods
This included boycott of government schools and colleges, government service, courts, legislative councils, municipalities, government titles, etc.

Characteristics of swadeshi movement (vandemataram movement)

It was both a political and economic movement
Involved programmes like the boycott of government service, courts, schools and colleges and of foreign goods
Promotion of Swadeshi goods
Promotion of National Education through the establishment of national schools and colleges
Landlords, Women and students actively participated & Students refused using books made of foreign paper

GOVERNMENT MEASURES

The cry of Bande Mataram was forbidden by government
Restriction on public meetings & suppression of freedom of the press
Schools & colleges were warned not to allow their students to take part in the movement or else their aid would be stopped
Students who were found guilty of participation were to be disqualified for government jobs or for government scholarships, and disciplinary action— fine, expulsion, arrest, beating, etc. —was to be taken against them.
Extremist leaders Lal, Bal, Pal & Aurobindo Ghosh were imprisoned and deported.

Important points

Some of the Muslims participated—Barrister Abdul Rasul, Liaqat Hussain, Guznavi, Maulana Azad
But most of the upper and middle class Muslims stayed away or, led by Nawab Salimullah of Dacca
They supported the partition on the plea that it would give them a Muslim-majority East Bengal
To further government interests, the All India Muslim League was propped up in 1907 as an anti-Congress front
Absence of participation of Peasants as well as industrialists

Decline of swadeshi movement

By 1908, the open phase (as different from the underground revolutionary phase) of the movement was almost over due to many reasons viz.
There was severe government repression.
The movement failed to create an effective organisation or a party structure.
The movement was rendered leaderless with most of the leaders either arrested or deported by 1908
Aurobindo-Ghosh and Bipin Chandra Pal retired from active politics.
Internal squabbles among leaders, magnified by the Surat split (1907), did much harm to the movement.
The movement aroused the people but did not know how to tap the newly released energy or how to find new forms to give expression to popular resentment.
The movement largely remained confined to the upper and middle classes and zamindars, and failed to reach the masses—especially the peasantry.
Non-cooperation and passive resistance remained mere ideas.
It was difficult to sustain a mass-based movement at a high pitch for too long.
Famous Extremist Leaders

Impact of swadeshi Movement

People from all walks of life participated in the movement with the greatest contribution coming from students and women.
It resulted in significant decline in the foreign imports during 1905-1908.
It led to building of self-reliance or Atma Shakti asserting on national dignity, honor and confidence.
The Swadeshi movement led the people to learn to challenge and disobey the British government explicitly without fearing the atrocities of the police and imprisonment.
Movement received wide coverage through newspapers and got attention at national level highlighting the true nature of british rule.
The movement however also set the undertones for communal disharmony by invoking religious sentiments, setting foundation for Muslim League.
Movement resulted in growth of extreme nationalism amongst youth which took to violence and wanted to bring an instant end to British dominance.
It forced British dispensation to offer some concession to Indians in forms of Morley-Minto reforms in 1909.
Most of all its concept of constructive swadeshi and boycott was actively used by Gandhi in later nationalist movements.