Indian National Congress (INC): Swadeshi and Boycott Movements

Leaders

  • Early Phase – By moderate leaders like K.K Mitra, and Surendranath Banerjee.
  • Later Phase – By extremists
    • Poona and Mumbai – Bal Gangadhar Tilak
    • Punjab – Lala Lajpat Rai and Ajit Singh
    • Madras – V.O . Chidambaram Pillai

Famous Slogan

  • “Political freedom is the life breath of a nation” by Aurobindo Ghosh.

Basic Ideas Put Forward

  • Boycott of foreign goods and establishment of indigenous industries. For example 
    • Ramesh Chandra Ray – Pharma Industry.
    • V.O. Chidambaram Pillai – Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company at Tuticorin.
    • TATA – Iron and Steel at Jamshedpur.
  • To mobilise the masses, public meetings and processions were organised.
  • Committees were set up to mobilise the masses like the Swadesh Bandhab Samiti of Ashwini Kumar Dutta.
  • Culture Elements
    • Amar Sonar Bangla by Rabindranath Tagore.
    • Theatre for Jatras.
    • Revival of Indian arts like the Bengal School of Painting.
  • Education
    • The Bengal National College inspired by Tagore’s Shantiniketan was set up.
    • The National Council of Education was established and Aurobindo formulated the National Education Policy in 1906.

Societal Reaction

  • Students participated in large numbers by boycotting British institutions.
  • Women from the urban middle class participated by picketing liquor shops.
  • Lower-class Muslims participated and upper and middle-class Muslims stayed away.
  • Labour class took active participation by carrying out strikes.
This entry was posted in General Studies 1, Modern History. Bookmark the permalink.