BPSC History Notes SWADESHI MOVEMENT (1905)
BPSC History Notes SWADESHI MOVEMENT (1905)
SWADESHI MOVEMENT (1905)
In August 1905 boycott resolution was passed in Calcutta Townhall meeting, formal proclamation of Swadesh was made.
The Swadeshi movement has its genesis in the anti-partition movement which was started to oppose the British decision to divide Bengal. With the start of the Swadeshi movement at the turn of the century, the Indian National Movement took a major leap forward.
Partition was done on October 16, 1905 and it was celeberated as a day of mourning. People tied rakhis as a symbol of Hindu-Muslim unity and unity of two Bengals. People took a dip in holy rivers. People sang Bande Matram which almost became a national song. Tagore composed Amar Sonar Bangla for the occasion which became national anthem of Bangladesh in 1971. During the Swadeshi movement in Bengal, a tricolour flag (red, green and yellow) was designed. It had eight lotuses representing eight provinces of British India, and a crescent moon, representing Hindus and Muslims.
Another means of creating a feeling of nationalism was through reinterpretation of history. The British saw Indians as backward and primitive, incapable of governing themselves. In response, Indians began looking into the past to discover India’s great achievements. They wrote about the glorious developments in ancient times when art and architecture, science and mathematics, religion and culture, law and philosophy, crafts and trade had flourished.
During the movement demand for foreign cloth dropped many a times. There was a widespread call for boycott of Manchester cloth and Liverpool salt.
Corps of Volunteers or ‘Samitis’ were also orgnised by the extremists. Ashwini Kumar Dutt’s Swadeshi Bandhab Samiti in Bengal is such an example. It helped in building political consciousness. Along with Tilak, Ashwini Kumar Dutt emerged as one of the early militant extremist.
Leadership of the Movement – Initial leadership was provided by themoderates including Surendernath Banarjee, Krishan Kumar Mitra and P C Ray. In fact, both moderates and extremists cooperted during the movement. Ajit Singh and Lajpat Rai led the movement in Punjab. Syed Haider Raza took command in Delhi. Chidambaram Pillai took the movement to Madras Presidency which was also galvanized by Bipin Chandra Pal’s extensive lecture tour
roused nationalist feelings. Tilak toured many parts of the country and tried to make the movement a national one.
Divide in Congress over Swadeshi Movement – Before the split, in 1906 Calcutta session under Dada Bhai Naroji 4 resolutions were passed – Boycott; National Education; Swadeshi and Condemnation of Partition. Question of either retention or rejection of these resolution became the major cause of split in the Congress. A faction – led by moderates – wanted to confine the movement to Bengal only, the other – led by extremists – wanted to make it a pan Indian movement in shape of a wide struggle. Further, Extremist wanted to rise beyond politics of partition and wanted to demand for full Swaraj, Moderates on the other hand thought that country is not yet ready for such demands and mass movement. (This demand was however somehow reached a compromise in the 1906 session under Naroji in which Naroji demanded ‘Swaraj’ or ‘Self rule’ like other colonies of British. Demand of Swaraj is landmark in Indian history.)
Success of Swadeshi Movement –
All major political trends of future – militant nationalism, socialism etc – had their origin in Swadeshi Movement
For the first time mass participation was seen
Economic expolitation point was further pushed forward and this time even some Zamindars also involved in the movement.
Many factories observed strikes
Women and student for the first time participated in large number
Population of the nation saw the first political awakening
The richness of the movement was not confined to politics alone, it was reflected in arts, literature, music, science and industry as well. Swadeshi education was promoted and Bengal National College was founded with Aurobindo as its principle. National Council of Education was also formed in 1906. A cultural movement also started during that time. Many prominant writers and poets like Rajanikanta Sen, Mukunda Das, Dwijedralal Ray wrote scores of patriotic scores. Rabindranath Tagore wrote ‘Amar Sonar Bangla’ at that time which was later adopted as the National Anthem of Bangladesh. In art, Abnindra Nath Tagore broke the domination of Victorian style and pioneered the Tagore School by reviving the Mughal, Rajput and Ajanta style. He also drew the iconic Bharat Mata figure which became a rallying point in the movement. Nandlal Bose was another important Oriental artist. In field of science P C Ray and Jagdish Chandra Basu made their mark. Acharya P C Ray’s Bengal Chemical Factory was a shining example of successful indegenious venture. All it marked what is termed as – Bengal Renaissance.
Fresh ideas were put forward by militant nationalists and extremists and new means of propaganda emerged. Techinque of ‘Extended Boycott’ from schools to jobs to Britsh goods was followed.
Some leaders like Tilak used the movement to creatively celebrate the traditional festival (Ganesh Chaturthi and Shivaji festival) which added mass appeal to the movement. Traditional folk theatre like Jatra was used extensively for spreading the idea of nationalism.
Many Muslim leaders like – Saiyaed Haider Raza, Abdul Rasool, Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad, Liaqat Hussain etc also participated.
By 1908, the movement has weaned away. Major causes were –
There was squabble in Congress and its split in 1907 (Surat Split) led to weakening of leadership.
Tilak was jailed for six year in 1908, Ashwini Kumar Dutt and others were also deported. Bipin Chandra Pal and Aurobindo Ghosh retired from politics.
The movement was mired with inertia.
It was no longer possible for common people to keep boycotting foreign goods due to constrained domestic supply and economic implications. Loss of jobs was another issue.
Government came down heavily and students were expelled, people were expelled from jobs and arrests were also made.
Criticism of Swadeshi Movement–
The movement was largely untouched in Southern states
It could also not take it along the peasant class and hence is often criticized as a middleclass movement.
Mass of the Muslim didn’t participate and their participation was limited. Ultimately Muslim League was also established in 1906.
The efforts to unify people were not without problems. When the past being glorified was Hindu, when the images celebrated were drawn from Hindu iconography, then people of other communities felt left out.