Question

Read the excerpt given below and answer the questions that follow:

It is a mistake to suppose that the Swadeshi movement requires sacrifice from poor people. We, the middle classes, are the greatest offenders in this respect. The poor Kumbi villagers require not many foreign articles at all, probably none at all. It is we, the middle classes, who are the consumers of foreign goods; and since this Government is not going to stop the drain by imposing a protective duty, it becomes imperatively necessary to adopt a measure by which we can do ourselves what the Government is bound to do and what the government ought to have done long ago. That one point was self-help, another point was determination, and the third was sacrifice. You will find that all this is included in this resolution, joined with the declaration made in the Presidential address that Swadeshism is a forced necessity in India owing to unnatural economic conditions in India, makes up a complete case for you. I trust that the resolution of self-help adopted this year will form the basis of other resolutions of self-help in years to come. -Bal Gangadhar Tilak (At the 1906 session of the Indian National Congress, where the resolution on Swadeshi was moved.)

1. What was the main aim of ‘Swadeshi’ as referred to in the extract? How does it relate to a boycott?
2. What are the reasons for focussing on Swadeshi?
3. In what ways is the speaker of this extract the forerunner of Gandhiji?

Answer 1

1. The chief objective of Swadeshi, as mentioned in the extract, is to promote self-dependence and lessen reliance on foreign goods. It is closely connected with the concept of boycotting foreign products. A boycott refers to a method of protest in which people deliberately refuse to purchase or use goods or services from a particular source. In the context of Swadeshi, the boycott of foreign goods was considered a means to oppose British economic policies and encourage the use of indigenous products.
2. The extract highlights the following reasons for emphasizing Swadeshi:
   1. Middle-Class Responsibility: The speaker points out that the middle class, rather than the poor, consumes most foreign goods. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the middle class to take the initiative in following and promoting Swadeshi practices.
   2. Absence of Protective Duty: The government had not imposed protective duties to prevent the outflow of wealth to foreign nations. Due to the lack of such measures, adopting Swadeshi became essential as an act of self-help.
   3. Necessity Due to Economic Conditions: Swadeshi is described as an unavoidable necessity in India because of abnormal economic conditions. These conditions, mainly shaped by British policies, made it necessary for Indians to rely on self-help and the Swadeshi movement.
3. The speaker of the extract, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, can be regarded as a forerunner of Gandhiji in several ways:
   1. Emphasis on Self-Help: Tilak highlighted self-help as a fundamental aspect of the Swadeshi movement, which was similar to Gandhi’s later focus on self-reliance and self-sufficiency during the Khilafat and Non-Cooperation movements.
   2. Boycott as a Form of Protest: Both Tilak and Gandhi recognised the power of boycott as a peaceful form of resistance. Tilak’s stress on boycotting foreign goods corresponds with Gandhi’s later support for non-cooperation through boycotts.
   3. Addressing Economic Issues: Both leaders addressed economic problems caused by British policies. Like Gandhi, Tilak viewed Swadeshi as a solution to the economic difficulties imposed by British rule in India.

Thus, Bal Gangadhar Tilak’s ideas played a crucial role in laying the groundwork for the later national movements led by Mahatma Gandhi.