Extent of Mass Participation in the Swadeshi Movement

During the Swadeshi movement, students played a significant role in advocating and practising the principles of Swadeshi, actively participating in organized actions against the sale of foreign goods. Their involvement was particularly visible in regions like Bengal, Maharashtra (especially in Poona), and various parts of the South such as Guntur, Madras, and Salem. However, their active participation was met with repressive measures by the authorities. The Swadeshi movement and the broader struggle for Indian independence saw a diverse range of Muslim involvement. 

Student Involvement and Repressive Measures

Picketing and Propagation of Swadeshi: Students engaged in propagating the principles of Swadeshi and actively organized picketing of shops selling foreign goods. 

• Their involvement in these activities demonstrated their commitment to the movement’s cause.
• Repressive Attitude of Authorities: The authorities, particularly the police, adopted a repressive attitude towards the participating students. 
• • As a response to their involvement in the movement, punitive measures were taken against the educational institutions and the students themselves.
• Penalties for Participating Schools and Colleges: Schools and colleges whose students took part in the agitation faced penalties, such as disaffiliation or the suspension of grants and privileges.
• Consequences for Participating Students: Students who were found guilty of participating in the movement were subject to disqualification for government jobs or scholarships. 
  • Additionally, disciplinary actions were taken against them, including fines, expulsion, arrest, and even physical punishment such as beatings.

Women’s Participation in the National Movement

Active Involvement in Protests: Women, traditionally confined to domestic roles, actively participated in protests, processions, and picketing against the sale of foreign goods. 

• This marked a departure from their customary roles and showcased their dedication to the cause of Indian nationalism.
• Expanded Role in the National Movement: The Swadeshi movement marked a turning point, signifying the beginning of a more active and visible role for women in the broader national movement. 
• • Their active engagement signified a growing realisation of their agency and their potential to contribute significantly to the cause of Indian independence.
• Urban Middle-Class Women: Women from the urban middle classes, who were previously relegated to household roles, became more involved in public activities and demonstrations, bringing their voices and efforts into the public sphere to support the national movement.

Stand of Muslims

The Swadeshi movement and the broader struggle for Indian independence saw a diverse range of Muslim involvement. The diverse array of responses among Muslims reflected varying degrees of support, from active participation to restrained involvement and even support for partition, influenced by perceptions of the movement’s inclusivity and its alignment with different religious and cultural sensibilities.

• Divided Support: Notable figures like Barrister Abdul Rasul, Liaqat Hussain, Guznavi, and Maulana Azad actively participated, while a significant portion of the upper- and middle-class Muslims stayed away due to concerns about the movement’s association with Hindu-centric symbols and festivals, which made some Muslim communities feel excluded.
  • Nawab Salimullah of Dacca and some Muslims supported the idea of partitioning India to create a Muslim-majority region in East Bengal, fearing threats to Muslim interests within the nationalist movement.
  • Colonial Divide and Rule Tactics: The British administration exploited these divisions, promoting the All India Muslim League as an anti-Congress entity to counter the Indian National Congress. They also encouraged reactionary elements like Nawab Salimullah, further dividing the movement.
• Limitations: The predominant use of Hindu symbols in the Swadeshi movement unintentionally alienated some Muslims, making it challenging to represent all religious and cultural identities within the nationalist struggle. 

Labour Unrest and Trade Unions

The period from the early 1900s to 1908 witnessed several instances of labour unrest and the formation of trade unions in various parts of India, indicating the growing discontent among workers against oppressive work conditions and discriminatory regulations. These movements emerged primarily in foreign-owned companies, triggering strikes and the formation of unions.

Key Instances of Labour Unrest and Union Formation:

• Burn Company Clerks’ Strike: In September 1905, more than 250 Bengali clerks from the Burn Company in Howrah walked out in protest against a derogatory work regulation. 
  • This protest highlighted the workers’ resistance against unfair and discriminatory policies.
• East Indian Railway Workers’ Strike: In July 1906, a strike among workers at the East Indian Railway led to the establishment of a Railwaymen’s Union, demonstrating the formation of organised labour groups to address their grievances.
• Jute Mills Strikes: Between 1906 and 1908, frequent strikes erupted in jute mills, often affecting the majority of the 18 mills operating in the area. These strikes were significant, reflecting the discontent and demand for improved working conditions among the labour force.
• Labour Strikes in Foreign-Owned Mills: Figures like Subramania Siva and Chidambaram Pillai led strikes in foreign-owned cotton mills in Tuticorin and Tirunelveli, representing a unified front against oppressive working conditions.
• Rawalpindi Strike: In Rawalpindi (Punjab), workers from the arsenal and railway went on strike, led by leaders such as Lala Lajpat Rai and Ajit Singh, denoting the spread of labour agitation to different regions of India.

All India Aspect

Movements advocating Bengal’s unity and the Swadeshi boycott were widespread nationwide. Tilak, pivotal in expanding this movement beyond Bengal, saw this as a pivotal juncture in India’s national movement. Recognizing the challenge and opportunity, he aimed to channel popular mass resistance against British rule, unifying the nation under a shared sense of collective empathy. Tilak’s vision sought to transform these regional movements into a unified struggle against colonialism, fostering a sense of solidarity among diverse Indian communities.

Causes of the Slow Dissipation of the Movement 

The Swadeshi and Boycott Movement, which began around 1905 as a mass-based movement in the Indian nationalist struggle against British colonial rule, eventually started to lose its momentum and fizzled out. The following are the factors that contributed to its weakening: 

• Government Repression: The British colonial government responded to the Swadeshi Movement with harsh measures, such as controlling and banning public gatherings, processions, and publications. 
  • Students were expelled, fined, and subjected to police brutality. This government crackdown significantly curtailed the movement’s activities and momentum.
• Social Base Expansion: The unrest led to the widening of the movement’s social base, encompassing certain sections of zamindaris, students, women, and lower-middle classes in urban areas. 
  • However, the movement faced difficulties in securing widespread Muslim support, especially from the Muslim peasantry. 
• Internal Divisions and Leadership Vacuum: The internal squabbles and the split within the Indian National Congress, the main nationalist organization, weakened the Swadeshi Movement. 
  • The departure of key leaders, either through deportations or voluntary retirement from active politics, left the movement without effective leadership.
• Limited Geographical Reach: Although the Swadeshi Movement began in Bengal, it struggled to gain full acceptance and traction in other parts of the country. 
  • The movement had not yet become a nationwide phenomenon, which limited its impact beyond Bengal.
• Lack of Organisational Structure: The Swadeshi Movement lacked a well-organized party structure capable of uniting people under a centralized and disciplined leadership. 
  • Despite introducing various techniques and principles, it could not convert these ideas into practical political practice at a national level.
• Directionless Energy: The movement successfully stirred public sentiment and nationalistic fervour but struggled to channel this energy towards concrete goals. 
  • There was no clear pathway for harnessing this grassroots support into sustained, effective resistance.
• Inherent Limitations of Mass Movements: Mass movements, which require high levels of militancy and self-sacrifice, cannot be sustained indefinitely at the same intensity, especially when met with severe government repression. 
  • Periodic pauses and the consolidation of forces are often necessary for the movement to regain momentum and energy for future struggles.

The above-mentioned factors, in combination, contributed to the waning of the movement’s influence and effectiveness by the middle of 1908. The movement, however, left a lasting legacy and laid the groundwork for subsequent phases of India’s struggle for independence.

Limitations of the Swadeshi Movement vis-a-vis Muslims

Failure to Mobilise Muslim Support: One of the main drawbacks of the Swadeshi Movement was its inability to gain the support of a significant portion of the Muslim population. 

• This lack of support was partly due to the British government’s deliberate strategy of using communalism to create divisions between Hindus and Muslims.
• Communal Divide in Bengal: The unique socio-economic situation in Bengal, where Hindus were predominantly landlords and Muslims constituted the peasantry, exacerbated the communal divide. 
• • This divide was exploited by the British to weaken the Swadeshi Movement.
• Role of the All India Muslim League: The establishment of the All India Muslim League, with the support and guidance of the British government, contributed to the division of political interests among Hindus and Muslims. 
  • The League’s formation was a significant step in the eventual partition of India.
• Manipulation of Communal Sentiments: The British government actively supported individuals like Nawab Salimullah of Dacca, who were opposed to the Swadeshi Movement. 
  • Communal forces were used to undermine the broader nationalist movement by sowing discord along religious lines.
• Communal Riots: Communal tensions were deliberately stoked, leading to outbreaks of violence and communal riots, particularly in Bengal. 
  • These riots further divided communities and weakened the nationalist cause.
• Misinterpretation of Traditional Customs: The use of traditional customs, festivals, and institutions to mobilize the masses, while a common technique in mass movements, was misinterpreted and distorted by communal forces. 
  • Instead of recognizing these traditions as part of common popular culture, they were interpreted through a narrow religious lens.

Conclusion

The Swadeshi Movement faced significant challenges due to the divisive communal tactics employed by the British government. The failure to unite Hindus and Muslims under a common nationalist banner weakened the movement’s overall impact. Additionally, the manipulation of traditional customs and institutions for mobilisation led to unintended consequences as communal forces distorted their meaning. The historical context of the time, including the socio-economic divisions in Bengal and the rise of the All-India Muslim League, played a pivotal role in shaping these dynamics.

DOWNLOAD PDF