DR.

RAM MANOHAR LOHIYA NATIONAL

LAW UNIVERSITY, LUCKNOW.

HISTORY: FINAL DRAFT

THE SWADESHI MOVEMENT

SUBMITTED TO: SUBMITTED BY:

DR. VANDANA SINGH, AKANKSHA SACHAN,
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, ROLL NO.014,
DR. RMLNLU. SEMESTER II.
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to my teacher and mentor, Dr. Vandana Singh for her
able guidance and help; Vice Chancellor, Prof. (Dr.) Gurdip Singh and Dean (Academics),Prof.
C.M. Jariwala for their encouragement and Enthusiasm. My seniors for sharing their valuable tips
and my classmates for their constant support.
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION
DEVELOPMENT OF PARTITION PLAN
THE SWADESHI UPSURGE
TRENDS OF THE MOVEMENT
NATIONAL EDUCATION
REPRESSIVE MEASURES BY THE GOVERNMENT
RE-UNIFICATION OF BENGAL
DRAWBACKS AND EFFECTS OF THE MOVEMENT
CONCLUSION
BIBLIOGRAPHY
 INTRODUCTION

The Swadeshi movement is considered as one of the major strategic movements of Indian
independence movement. It was an economic strategy aimed at removing the British Empire from
power and improving economic conditions in India by following the principles of Swadeshi. It
raised local emotions and helped in unity among Indians. Thus, strategies of the Swadeshi
movement involved boycotting British products and the revival of domestic products and
production processes. By 1903 the proposal for Partition of Bengal had become publicly known in
1903, and this led to spontaneous protests all over Bengal. The movement involved the boycott of
British products and throwing of western clothes into bonfires. To let the British know how
unhappy the Indians were at the partition of Bengal, leaders of the anti-partition movement decided
to use only Indian goods and to boycott British goods. People even picketed the shops selling
foreign goods, and imported sugar was boycotted. People also resolved to use things made only in
India and this was called the Swadeshi movement. The movement met success.

It was only at a later stage that Gandhi too adopted this strategy. He broadened the concept and
as per his version, the concept of Swadeshi was to attain self-sufficiency which included
employment of unemployed people by encouraging village industries and towards building a non-
violent society. Thus, his movement of Swadeshi included boycotting of all types of British
products and the restoration of all domestic products.

Swadeshi movement gathered lot of popularity and people boycotted foreign products and even
burnt British cloth in public. The sale of English goods fell and Bombay Mills worked overtime
to meet the demand for Swadeshi textiles. The movement turned into a matter of national and
personal pride to wear coarse dhotis woven on local handlooms rather than fashionable Manchester
cottons. The boycott of British products was followed by the advocacy of Swadeshi and to buy
Indian products only. The leaders of Bengal felt that mere demonstrations, public meetings and
resolutions were not in of something more concrete was needed and the answer was Swadeshi and
Boycott. An important aspect of the Swadeshi movement was the emphasis placed on self-reliance
or Atmasaki1. Self-reliance meant assertion of national dignity, honor and self-confidence.

1
Atmasaki: self-reliance, a term given by Rabindranath Tagore
 DEVELOPMENT OF THE PARTITION PLAN

The provincial state of Bengal had an area of 189,000 sq. miles and a population of nearly 8
crores. It included the Hindi-speaking regions of Bihar, the Oriya-speaking regions
of Orissa as well as the Assamese-speaking region of Assam, making it a huge administrative
entity. Moreover, the capital Calcutta was the capital of the entire British India. With the
growing efforts of the Indian National Congress to secure the independence of India, the
partition was expected to weaken what was perceived as the nerve centre of Indian nationalism.
With real objective as second one but declared objective as first one, Lord Curzon decided to
partition Bengal into two entities, which would result in a Muslim-majority in the eastern
half, and a Hindu-majority in the western half. This he hoped would reduce the administrative
pressures as well divide the population on religious grounds, quelling the Indian Independence
Movement. The main reason for the Partition was purely political. The Hindus were in a better
position in terms of economic status, professional qualities etc., than the Muslims. During the
pre-Sepoy Mutiny period, section of Hindu traders greatly helped the British while their
Muslim counterparts did not. The British were angry. With the spread of Western education
Hindus made a big way, but the Muslims could not. A sense of deprivation crept in. Perhaps,
the sense of deprivation was engineered. When the discontentment grew in the beginning of
this century, the British capitalised on this sense of deprivation. Even Lord Minto, Curzons
successor was critical of the way in which partition was imposed disregarding public opinion
saw that it was good political strategy; Minto argued that from a political point of View alone,
putting aside the administrative difficulties of the old province, I believe partition to have been
very necessary. The Partition of Bengal in 1905 was made on October 16 by
Viceroy Curzon2. The former province of Bengal was divided into two new
provinces (1) Bengal (comprising western Bengal as well as the province of Bihar and Orissa)
and capital at Calcutta. It was to have 17 million Bengali and 37 million Oriya and Hindi
speaking people thus reducing Bengali to a minority in Bengal itself. (2) East Bengal and
Assam with a population of 31 million people and with its capital at Dhaka3. The partition of
the state intended to curb Bengali influence by not only placing Bengalis under two

2
Viceroy Curzon: George Curzon, Viceroy of India (1899-1905)
3
All About Partition, R.C. Majumdar (1963)
administrations, but by reducing them to a minority in Bengal itself. Also, the partition was
meant to foster another kind of division-this time on the basis of religion, i.e. between the
Muslims and the Hindus. The Indian Nationalist clearly saw the design behind the partition
and condemned it unanimously. The anti-partition and Swadeshi movement had begun. Due
to these political protests, the two parts of Bengal were reunited in 1911. A new partition which
divided the province on linguistic, rather than religious grounds followed, with the Hindi,
Oriya and Assamese areas separated to form separate administrative units: Bihar and Orissa
Province was created to the west, and Assam Province to the east. The administrative capital
of British India was moved from Calcutta to New Delhi as well.

THE SWADESHI UPSURGE

The Swadeshi movement had its genesis in the anti-partition movement which started with the
partition of Bengal by the Viceroy of India, Lord Curzon, 1905 and continued up to 1911. It
was the most successful of the pre-Gandhian movements. Its chief architects were Aurobindo
Ghosh, Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal and Lala Lajpat Rai, V. O.
Chidambaram Pillai. Though affected in 1905, the partition proposals had come onto the public
domain as early as 1903. Therefore, since 1903, there was prepared the ground for the launch
of the Swadeshi movement. In first phase (1903-1905), moderate way of 3Ps was in full sway
but it could not stop partition. Strong sense of unity among Bengalis fostered by their regional
independence, cultural development of 19th century, spread of western education and Hindu
revivalist mood gave birth to a vehement resistance. The Bengalis adopted the boycott
movement as the last resort after they had exhausted the armoury of constitutional agitation
(between 1903 and 1905) known to them, namely vocal protests, appeals, petitions and
Conferences to coerce the British to concede the unanimous national demand. This
was boycott-cum-swadeshi movement.

The original conception of Boycott was mainly an economic one. It had two distinct, but allied
purposes in view. The first was to bring pressure upon the British public by the pecuniary loss
they would suffer by the boycott of British goods, particularly the Manchester cotton goods
for which Bengal provided the richest market in India. Secondly, it was regarded as essential
for the revival of indigenous industry which being at its infant stage could never grow in the
face of free competition with foreign countries which had highly developed industry. Like the
Boycott, the Swadeshi as a purely economic measure for the growth of Indian Industry was not
an altogether novel idea in India. But the seeds sown by them did not germinate till the soil
was rendered fertile by the grim resolve of a united people, exasperated beyond measure; to
forge the twin weapons of Boycott and Swadeshi in order to undo the great wrong which was
inflicted upon them by an arrogant Government.

Later on, the economic boycott receded into background with the passage of time and it
developed into an idea of non-cooperation with the British in every field and the object aimed
at was a political regeneration of the country with the distant goal of absolute freedom looming
large before the eyes of the more advanced section. Similarly, Swadeshi completely outgrew
the original conception of promoting Indian industry. It assumed a new form based upon
the literal connotation of the word swadeshi, namely attachment to everything Indian.

TRENDS OF THE MOVEMENT

The movement marked the beginning of new politics, it marked the beginning of a new
nationalist era- the former was politics of militancy and the later the politics of the militant
nationalism. It was characterised by a shift from political moderation to political extremism,
from constitutional agitation to radical struggle and from politics of petition to direct action.
The movement marked the beginning of new form of mobilization. New political weapons for
giving a new orientation to the politics of pressure came to be used- Swadeshi, Constructive
Swadeshi, Boycott, Extended Boycott, passive resistance, mass agitation etc.

The movement was the first popular upsurge and humble beginning of multi-class movement
ensuring participation of new section of people like students, women, lower middle class
people, zamindars, peasant etc. The mobilisation is remarkable by mobilisation of pantry in
some areas and politicization of the economic grievances of the labours. Even though
mobilization was in limited areas, the very beginning of modern mass politics in India is
markable. Peasants in most parts didnt actively join boycott or passive resistance but many
though meetings, constructive works, etc. were exposed for the first time to modern nationalist
ideas and politics.
 NATIONAL EDUCATION

One of the major planks of the program of self-reliance was Swadeshi or Students promoting
the boycott and swadeshi movement drew upon them the wrath and violence of the British
Raj. Circulars were issued forbidding the students under threat of severe penalty to associate
themselves in any way with the Boycott movement even the cry of Bande Mataram4 in streets
and other public places was declared to be a punishable offence. Scholars or colleges whose
students disobeyed the order were not only threatened with the withdrawal of Government
grants and even with disaffiliation, but their students were to be declared ineligible for
Government Service. The authorities of the educational institutions were asked to keep strict
watch over their pupils, and if unable to control them, were to report the names to the Education
Department for taking necessary disciplinary action. The magistrates were asked to inform the
teachers and those connected with the management of educational institutions, that of
necessary they might be enrolled as Special Constables. The Direction of Public Instruction
asked the principals of colleges to show causes why their students who took part in the
picketing should not be expelled. Anti-circular society was set up with the objective of rallying
students through processions, picketing, collection of funds and creating awareness. At a
conference attended by a large number of very eminent men of Bengal in different walks of
life held on 10th November, 1905, it was decided to establish at once a National Council of
Education5 (Jatiya Shiksha Parisad) in order to organize a system of education-literary,
scientific and technical- on national lines and under national control. The number of national
schools also grew apace with time.

REPRESSIVE MEASURES BY THE GOVERNMENT

Other than boycott and burning of foreign goods, people also resorted to peaceful
picketing which destined to become a normal feature in almost every type of political agitation in
future. All these gave the police a good opportunity to interfere. The volunteers were roughly
handled and if they resisted the police a good opportunity to interfere. The volunteers were roughly
handled and if they resisted, the police beat them with lathis. These Regulation Lathis, were

4
Bande Mataram: Anandamath,1881
5
National Council of Education: Indian Universities Commission,1902 and Indian Universities Act, 1904
freely used by the police in the first instance to drive away the picketers and to disperse crowds,
whether rioters or peaceful. The uttering of Bande Mataram was an indisputable evidence of
sympathy to movement and later it was made illegal to shout Bande Mataram in a public place.
The official phrase, mild lathi-charge to describe the assault of the police, was a misnomer. It
was certainly not mild as the gaping wounds on the bodies loudly proclaimed. The Government
also issued instructions to the educational institutions to control their boys and prevent them from
participating in the swadeshi movement. Rural markets were controlled bans were put on
processions and meetings, leaders were put into confinement without any trial and loyal Muslims
were made to go against the recalcitrant Hindus.

RE-UNIFICATION OF BENGAL

Due to these political protests, the two parts of Bengal were reunited on 12 December 1911. A
new partition which divided the province on linguistic, rather than religious grounds followed,
with the Hindi, Oriya and Assamese areas separated to form separate administrative units: Bihar
and Orissa Province was created to the west, and Assam Province to the east. The administrative
capital of British India was moved from Calcutta to New Delhi as well.

DRAWBACKS AND EFFECTS OF THE MOVEMENT

It didnt garner the support of mass Muslims and they were turned against the movement by
British. The use of traditional popular customs and festivals to mobilise masses was misinterpreted
by Communal forces backed by the State. Communal riots broke in Bengal. To mollify the people
of East Bengal, Lord Curzon declared that a university as a centre of excellence would be
established in Dacca (which would later be named as University of Dhaka) and formed a
committee in this regard consisting Khwaja Salimullah, A. K. Fazlul Huq and others. The decision
was severely criticized by some Hindu leaders in West Bengal. The swadeshi partition and the
Government measures finally led to the split of Hindus and Muslims and virtually the formation
of Muslim League6.

6
Muslim League: All-India Muslim League,1906; founded by Khwaja Salimullah.
Movement lacked effective organisation and political structure and they lacked struggle-pause-
struggle technique of Mahatma Gandhi. Split of Congress in 1907 weakened the movement and
repression of British caused intensity dreamed. Though swadeshi movement had spread outside
Bengal but rest of the country was not yet prepared to adopt new style and stage of politics.

For the first two or three years, there was a serious decline in the import of British
goods, particularly cloth. Passive resistance could not go for long and its ultimate result could
never be in doubt. This was the genesis of the sudden emergence of a network of secret
revolutionary organizations which were determined to meet the Government on equal terms, by
collectively arms and opposing terrorism by terrorism. The youth of the county, who had been part
of the mass movement, now found themselves unable to disappear tamely into the background
once the movement itself grew moribund and Government repression was stepped up. Frustrated,
some among them opted for individual heroism as distinct from the earlier attempts at mass
action.

Although swadeshi was originally conceived as merely a handmade of boycott of foreign goods
and meant only to be an urge to use indigenous in preference to foreign goods, it soon attained a
much more comprehensive character and became a concrete symbol of nationalism. Swadeshi in
Bengal brought into the vortex of politics a class of people-the landed aristocracy who had
hitherto held studiously aloof from the congress or any other political organization. Outside
Bengal, it gave a rude shock of disillusionment to the whole of India and stimulated the political
thoughts of the people. Swadeshi emphasized on atmasakti7 or soul force. Movement gave a
thrust to self-reliance, a new confidence and reassertion of national pride.

Self-help and constructive work at the village level was envisaged as a means of bringing about
the social and economic regeneration of the villages and of reaching the rural masses. This meant
social reform and campaigns against evils such as caste oppression, early marriage, the dowry
system, consumption of alcohol, etc. It had permanent impact on the development of several
industries like textile mills, soap and match factories etc. Banks and insurance companies were

7
ibid.p.4
started. The greatest beneficiaries were Bombay and Ahmedabad where enterprising industrialists
came forward to fill the vacuum created by decrease of British import.

It had direct impact on cultural development and education in Bengal. The movement
evolved several new methods and techniques of mass mobilization and mass action though it was
not able to put them all into practice successfully. It also widened social base of movement. One
particular aspect of the swadeshi movement which M.K. Gandhi prized was that it taught the
people to challenge and defy the authority of the Government openly in public and took away from
the minds of even ordinary men the dread of police assault and prison as well as the sense of
ignominy which hitherto attached to them. To go to prison or get badge of honour and not as
hitherto a brand of infancy. Swadeshi Movement was only the first round in the national popular
struggle against colonialism. It was an important battle in the long drawn out and complex war
of position for Indian independence.
 CONCLUSION

With the subsidizing of the mass movement, one era in the Indian Freedom Struggle was over. It
would be wrong, however, to see the Swadeshi Movement as a failure. The movement made a
major contribution in taking the idea of nationalism, in truly creative fashion, to many sections of
the people, hitherto touched by it. By doing so, it further eroded the hegemony of the colonial ideas
and institutions. Swadeshi influence in the realm of culture and ideas was crucial in this regard and
has remained un paralleled in Indian History, except, perhaps, for the cultural upsurges of the
1930s, the time under the influence of the Left.

Further, the movement evolved several new methods and techniques of mass mobilization and
mass action though it was not able to put them all into practice successfully. Just as moderates
achievement in the realm of developing an economic critique of colonialism is not minimized by
the fact that they could not carry themselves this critique to a large masses of people.

The Swadeshi Movement was not only the first round in the national popular struggle against
colonialism. It was to borrow the imagery used by Antonio Gramsci an important battle in the
long drawn out and complex war of position for Indian Independence.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

BOOKS REFERRED TO:

INDIAS STRUGGLE FOR INDEPENDENCE

-BIPIN CHANDRA
THE SWADESHI MOVEMENT IN BENGAL
-SUMIT SARKAR