Swadeshi Movement: The Swadeshi movement began in India on August 7, 1905, officially starting from Calcutta's Town Hall. Its aim was to promote local production, reduce imports, and gain self-rule. Mahatma Gandhi considered it the essence of self-rule, and it originated in the Bengali state. Alongside the Swadeshi movement, a boycott movement emerged, encouraging the use of local products and the burning of British goods. This movement gained momentum after the British Government divided Bengal. Bal Gangadhar Tilak, a prominent Indian leader, played a significant role in promoting the Swadeshi and Boycott movement. Check out important facts about the Swadeshi Movement in the article below.
Swadeshi Movement Timeline |
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Timeline | Associated Events |
1850-1904 | Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Mahadev Govind Ranade, Ganesh Vyankatesh Joshi, Dadabhai Naoroji and Bhaswat K. Nigoni began to promote Indian nationalism. |
1871-1872 | In Punjab, the Namdhari Sikhs took a stand against English fabric by implementing a boycott. Ram Singh Kuka, a prominent figure within the movement, vocally opposed English clothing, education, and courts. He advocated for the use of hand-spun khaddar over English fabric, promoted vernacular education as an alternative to English schooling, and favored khap panchayats as a traditional form of dispute resolution. Through these actions, Ram Singh Kuka and the Namdhari Sikhs demonstrated their commitment to resisting British influence and preserving traditional Sikh values. |
1905-1917 | In 1905, Lord Curzon decided to split Bengal, which upset many people. They didn't like this decision. As a response, some groups formed small clubs in local areas. These groups were called revolutionary groups. Two of these groups were Anushilan Samiti and Jugantar Party. They tried to start armed uprisings and even killed some important government officials. |
1918-1947 | On July 31, 1921, Mahatma Gandhi made the movement stronger by telling people to stop buying things from other countries. He also burned 150,000 clothes made in England at Elphinstone Mill Compound in Parel, Mumbai. Mahatma Gandhi set up places where people could spin their own clothes from a fabric called Khadi all over the country. He called the people who spun Khadi "warriors of freedom". |
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