The economic exploitation of the British created an anti-British
feeling among different sections of people. This attitude was a
major factor that led to the emergence of Indian nationalism
in the ninteenth century
Nationalism is the sense of unity among the people of a country
irrespective of caste, creed, religion and region. Indian
National Congress was an example for such an organised form
of nationalism.
To check economic drain, the early national leaders pleaded with the people to boycott foreign goods and strengthen
Indian industry by consuming Indian products.
The major strategy adopted for the anti-
partition movement in Bengal in 1905 was the
boycott of foreign goods and consumption of
indigenous products. As part of the agitation,
foreign goods were collected and burnt publicly
The extensive use of indigenous products by
discarding foreign items rejuvenated Indian
industry. As a result, a number of textile mills, soap factories, matchbox companies
national banks, and insurance
companies were established. It was
during the Swadeshi Movement, that
the Bengal Chemical Store in Bengal
the Tata Iron and Steel Plant in
Maharashtra and the Swadeshi Steam
Navigation Company in Tamil Nadu
were established. Import of British
goods to India steadily went down
during this period.
Participation of women, labourers, and students were another
remarkable feature of this movement.Washermen avow that
they would not wash foreign cloths. The priests swore that
they would not perform rituals and prayers using foreign items.
Woman boycotted foreign bangles and utensils. Students quit
these schools to take part in the movement.
Indian nationalism attained further strength from Swadeshi
Movement. The leaders like Bala Gangadara Tilak, Lala Lajpat Ray,
and Bipin Chandra Pal emphasized the necessity of overthrowing the
foreign rule. These leaders were together known as Lal-Bal-Pal.
"Freedom is my birth right. I shall have it" - This proclamation of
Bal Gangadhar Tilak inspired the national movement.
We have seen how the protest of people against the British policy
that exploited and impoverished Indians attained an organised form.
It was these protests that were transformed as
Indian nationalism. Boycott of
foreign goods and consumption
of indigenous goods acted as a
powerful weapon in the anti-
British movement. Later
Gandhiji made this movement
strong and popular.
Majority of the earlier leaders
of Indian National movement
were Bengalis. So Bengal
was called the Nursery of
Indian National Movement.
Lord Curson divided Bengal
in 1905 to weaken the Indian
National Movement.
V.O.Chidambaran Pillai who
led the Swadeshi movement
in TamilNadu established
Swedeshi Steam Navigation
Company in Tuticorin in
1906. So he is called the
'Helmsman of Tamilnadu' (Kapplottiya
Tamizhan). The initial capital of six
lakh rupees to start the company was
collected from local traders.
