Question

How did the Swadeshi movement give a major impetus to the cotton textiles industry?

Answer 1

Swadeshi movement was the movement, which was started by Gandhiji as a step towards achieving self-sufficiency in production. British goods were boycotted and Indian manufactured products were promoted. British in India deepened their roots by destroying indigenous industries. Swadeshi hit on this very policy of the government. People destroyed foreign manufactured goods in huge quantities; they started spinning for their own clothes. The capital was collected and new mills were set up throughout the country under the impetus provided by the swadeshi movement. New mills, which are still functioning, sprang up throughout the country. Khadi cloth and khadi industry were revived, the traditional artisans who have lost their livelihood were reabsorbed under the swadeshi economy as a movement against the British-led economy. Not only large-scale industries were set up but also small and a cottage industry was revived. Since under the wave of nationalism people were adopting khadi- Indian handloom, the demand for the Indian cotton shot up, hence the entire indigenous cotton industry of India was revived. It also helped in generating employment opportunities leading to overall growth in national income.