Swadeshi Movement

 

Topic: Swadeshi Movement (Continuation)

Context & Recap:

1. This lecture continues the discussion on the Swadeshi Movement, the first of 7 major movements in Modern Indian History.

2. A previous class covered the Partition of Bengal (Bengal Vibhajana).

3. There was a gap between classes because important current affairs topics (Farm Laws repeal, Crypto, Omicron) were covered in detail.

4. Future classes will focus on Modern India until completion, with potential weekly current affairs updates on Sundays.

Partition of Bengal (Reasons & Basis):

1. Primary Reason: To weaken the growing Nationalism (Jatiyavadam) in Bengal, which was considered the "Nerve Center of Nationalism". The British aimed to dilute ("palachana cheyyali") this strength.

2. Basis of Division (Carried out by Lord Curzon):

   • Religion (Matham):

     • East Bengal: Created with a Muslim majority and Bengali Hindu minority.

     • Bengal (West): Remained with a Hindu majority and Muslim minority.

   • Language (Bhasha):

     • In the 'Bengal' province (West), areas of Orissa and Bihar were merged.

     • This made Bengali speakers a minority in their own province, dominated linguistically by Hindi/Oriya speakers.

3. Conclusion: The partition was effectively a division of the Bengali people (Bengalila Vibhajana), aimed at weakening them religiously in one part and linguistically in the other, thereby curbing nationalism.

Swadeshi Movement - Launch & Spread:

1. The movement started as a direct reaction against the Partition of Bengal.

2. Key Dates:

   • 1903: Idea/news of partition became public.

   • July 20, 1905: Official announcement of the Partition.

   • August 7, 1905: Formal launch of the Swadeshi Movement at a massive public meeting in Calcutta Town Hall.

     • Passed the Swadeshi Resolution (use Indian goods) and Boycott Resolution (reject foreign goods).

     • (Note: The word 'Boycott' first appeared in K.K. Mitra's 'Sanjivani').

     • This meeting had no single president and was not an official INC session.

   • October 16, 1905: Partition came into effect. This day was observed as:

     • Day of Mourning (Santapa Dinam)

     • Day of Fasting (Upavasa Dinam)

     • Hartal/Bandh (shops closed, no cooking fires lit - "aggipettelu bandh").

     • Rakhi Tying: Hindus and Muslims tied Rakhi on each other's wrists as a symbol of unity and brotherhood (suggested by Rabindranath Tagore).

     • A large public meeting occurred, addressed by Surendranath Banerjee and Ananda Mohan Bose. Rs 50,000 collected for Swadeshi industries.

3. Spread Outside Bengal (Yes, the movement spread):

   • Bombay & Poona (Maharashtra): Bal Gangadhar Tilak

   • Punjab: Lala Lajpat Rai

   • Madras (South India): Chidambaram Pillai

   • Delhi & Kashmir: Syed Haider Raza (notable Muslim participation)

   • Andhra: Bipin Chandra Pal toured; Gadicherla Harisarvottama Rao ('Andhra Tilak'), Mutnuri Krishna Rao involved.

Forms/Methods of the Swadeshi Movement:

1. Swadeshi: Promotion and use of Indian goods.

   • Slogan: "Be Swadeshi, Buy Swadeshi".

   • Establishment of Swadeshi industries (e.g., Vangalakshmi Cotton Mill, Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company in Tuticorin by Chidambaram Pillai, Bengal Swadeshi Chemical Stores by P.C. Ray).

2. Boycott: Rejection of foreign goods, especially British goods.

   • Boycott of Manchester cloth and Liverpool salt was prominent.

   • Public burning of foreign cloth.

3. Samitis (Volunteer Corps): Groups formed to spread the message and enforce boycott/promote Swadeshi.

   • Most famous: Swadeshi Bandhab Samiti in Barisal, founded by Ashwini Kumar Dutta (AK Dutta), a teacher. Utilized students effectively.

4. Use of Traditional Festivals: Mobilized masses through popular religious/cultural events.

   • Tilak prominently used Ganapati Festivals and Shivaji Festivals in Maharashtra.

5. National Education: Boycotting government institutions and establishing alternatives.

   • National Council of Education established (1906).

   • Led to founding of National Schools and Colleges.

   • Example: Bengal National College (First Principal: Aurobindo Ghosh).

   • Bengal Technical Institution founded.

   • Youth sent to Japan for technical training (Financial help from Munindra Nandi of Kasimbazar).

6. Cultural Aspect (Literature & Art):

   • Rabindranath Tagore wrote "Amar Sonar Bangla" (My Golden Bengal), now the national anthem of Bangladesh.

   • Tagore also promoted "Atmashakti" (Self-Reliance / Inner Strength).

   • Abanindranath Tagore (Rabindranath's nephew) painted the first image of "Bharat Mata", giving a visual identity to the nation.

7. Passive Resistance (Nishkriyatmaka Pratighatana): Concept advocated by Aurobindo Ghosh.

   • Included boycott of schools, colleges, courts, government services, and non-payment of taxes.

   • Aim: To make British administration difficult/impossible without resorting to violence ("Not with arm"). Getting arrested willingly to fill jails.

Role of Indian National Congress (INC):

1. 1905 Benares Session: Presided over by Gopal Krishna Gokhale. Passed resolutions supporting Swadeshi and Boycott.

2. 1906 Calcutta Session: Presided over by Dadabhai Naoroji.

   • Reiterated Swadeshi, Boycott, and National Education.

   • Crucially, declared Swarajya (Self-Government) as the INC's goal for the first time, under pressure from Extremists led by Tilak.

Moderates vs. Extremists:

1. Moderates: Wanted the movement confined to Bengal and limited to boycotting goods. Their goal was more representation within the British system.

2. Extremists (Lal-Bal-Pal + Ghosh): Wanted the movement pan-India and to include a wider boycott (education, jobs, courts, taxes). Their goal was Swarajya (Self-Government). This difference in approach led to conflict.

Alienation of Muslims:

1. Use of Hindu religious symbols/festivals (Ganapati, Shivaji, Kali/Durga worship, Vande Mataram from Anandamath which had anti-Muslim context) alienated a section of Muslims.

2. The British actively encouraged Muslim separatism (leading to Muslim League formation in 1906).

Key Terms & People:

• Vande Mataram Movement: Another name for Swadeshi, given by A.K. Dutta.

• Vande Mataram (Slogan/Song): From Bankim Chandra Chatterjee's "Anandamath" (1882). Controversial for some Muslims.

• Swarajya: Self-Government. First declared as INC goal in 1906 by Dadabhai Naoroji. Concept first articulated (as Self-Govt) by Dayananda Saraswati.

• Swadeshi (Concept): First advocated by Gopalrao Deshmukh (Lokhitawadi).

• Passive Resistance: Aurobindo Ghosh.

• National Handloom Day (Aug 7): Commemorates the launch of Swadeshi Movement. Started by Modi govt in 2015.

• Lal-Bal-Pal: Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal (Extremist leaders).

• Aurobindo Ghosh: Extremist leader, Principal of Bengal National College, proponent of Passive Resistance.

• Dadabhai Naoroji: 'Grand Old Man of India', Moderate, presided over 1906 Calcutta session.

• Gopal Krishna Gokhale: Moderate, presided over 1905 Benares session.

• Ashwini Kumar Dutta: Teacher, founded Swadeshi Bandhab Samiti.

• Rabindranath Tagore: Poet, suggested Rakhi tying, wrote Amar Sonar Bangla, promoted Atmashakti.

• Abanindranath Tagore: Painter, created the first image of Bharat Mata.

• Syed Haider Raza: Led the movement in Delhi/Kashmir.

Decline & Future Topics:

1. The movement largely faded by 1908 (though officially ended with partition annulment in 1911).

2. Reasons for failure, impact, Muslim League formation, Surat Split (INC split into Moderates/Extremists), Minto-Morley Reforms, and the Bharat Mata concept will be discussed in subsequent classes.