Background of the Swadeshi Movement
In 1874, during Bengal partition, the Britishers created a Chief Commissioner’s province. They separated Assam from Bengal & merged Bengali-speaking Sylhet into Assam.
The local residents were not happy with this decision. At that time, Lord Curzon was the viceroy. This strategic move aimed to curb nationalism. They especially targeted such Bengali leaders who were effectively the part of the national movement.
Early stages of Swadeshi movement
- The seeds of the Swadeshi Movement were sown in the early 1900s.
- It was initially started as a cultural movement to celebrate the rich cultural history of India.
- It was propagated by the Indian National Congress to educate people about Indian culture like festivals, dance, music, etc.
- Bal Gangadhar Tilak was the main force behind the Swadeshi movement. He wholeheartedly supported self-reliance, urging Indians to embrace their goods and production, marking a significant shift from dependence on British goods.
Peak Stage of Swadeshi Movement
- At the time of Partition of Bengal, Swadeshi movement took a major hit. Now, it was more politically supported and used as a movement to repel British rule.
- Around this time, the political leaders like Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal, Lala Lajpat Rai etc. started mass-gathering people to raise a voice against the colonial rule.
- It was spread widely to UP, Bombay, Madras and many more.
Boycott and Swadeshi Movement
- Swadeshi movement was merged with the Boycott movement to gain a high momentum.
- People are not only supporting Indian goods but also ready to not buy a single British commodity. Tilak named it as a “Bahishkar Yoga.”
- It highly affected the colonial government and led them towards a highly disruptive economy.
- Both movements highly advocated boycotting British goods and accepting domestic products to widely promote the idea of Swadeshi.
Swadeshi and Boycott Movement
Swadeshi movement started on 7th August 1905 in Town Hall, Kolkata. The Swadeshi movement which is also called as Self-rule movement played a pivotal role in the history of Indian Independence. It was a critical movement in India’s freedom struggle. This article solely focuses on the Swadeshi movement and how it contributed to the Indian struggle for independence.
This article will bring light to the struggles of freedom fighters during British rule. It will also tell about the contribution of the Indian National Congress to the Swadeshi movement while covering the reasons for the failure of this movement. Let us dive in!
Swadeshi and Boycott Movement
Table of Content
- Swadeshi movement
- Background of the Swadeshi Movement
- Struggles of the Swadeshi Movement
- Impact of the Swadeshi Movement on Indian Independence
- Why Swadeshi Movement Failed?