Swadeshi Movement in India and its impact on freedom struggle – A study
Author(s):
Ananda S
Keywords:
Freedom Struggle, Division of Bengal, Swadeshi Movement, Shun Foreign goods.
Abstract
The genesis of ‘Boycott Movement’ could be traced back to the freedom struggle of country ‘Ireland’. However, in India’s freedom struggle, the term boy cott became very popular, which aims at promoting and reviving Indian industries by using only domestically manufactured goods and to shun the foreign made products. Locally, this ‘boycott movement’ was named as ‘Swadeshi Movement’, which became robust after Bengal Partition by the Britishers. To create awareness about this massive movement, freedom leaders gathered people for meeting on several occasions and persuaded to understand and adopt ‘boycott’, even made them vow solemnly against foreign goods. Following the footsteps and success stories of Bengal, meetings were organized even in other provinces too. People from different sections of the society like working classes, layers, zamindars, the peasants, the students, the young, shopkeepers, medical men, native army, priests, barbers and washermen etc., were persuaded to take part in ‘Swadeshi Movement’ and to shun using foreign goods. There was acceptance and acknowledgement for ‘Swadeshi Movement’ from every segment of the society. For instance, the washermen, decided to stop washing foreign made cloths and barbers rejected to serve the people who used foreign goods. Priests refused to perform ceremonies who used imported items. People boycotted the shops which sold foreign goods and even set the goods on fire, they also persuaded others to shun selling and buying of foreign goods. People chanted ‘Vande Mataram’ to bring in enthusiasm in the common masses. These actions of volunteers helped in averting people from using foreign articles. Students joined the movement, which resulted in punishments from their respective schools and colleges including their expulsion. The other mechanism employed by the protagonists of the ‘Swadeshi Movement’ was ‘Ostracism’ from the society for the people using foreign products. Such people were socially out casted, mocked on, insulted and abused publicaly. Their children were isolated by other kids in the neighborhood and schools and even the marriages of their children were affected especially in the areas of Bengal. As a result, the imports of British manufactured goods dropped drastically. Britishers tried all methods and means to repress the agitation. This paper analyses the ‘Swadeshi Movement’ and its impact on the India’s freedom struggle.
Article Details
Unique Paper ID: 167555

Publication Volume & Issue: Volume 5, Issue 1

Page(s): 389 - 392
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