Swadeshi movement

Swadeshi movement was at its highest during the days that followed the Bangal partition. The concept of Swadeshi movement was a movement of self-help and self-respect and it aimed at being only constructive. Swadeshism at its highest is a deep, passionate, fervent, all-embracing love of the motherland and that this love seeks to show itself, not in one sphere of activity only but in all; it envades the whole man and it will not rest until it has raised the whole man. Indian patriots, whether Nationalist or Moderate, did not differ on this point. All who gave any thought to matters of India’s trade, commerce, agriculture, mineral and forest wealth and industry were unanimously of this view. Ranade was the acknowledged exponent of this thought and Dadabai, Romesh Chandra Dutta, Digby, Gokhale spoke or wrote in the same strain and Tlak held the same views. The difference between all of them and Tilak notably was that Tilak took immence pains to spread these views among the vast masses by propaganda in the language of the people while others restricted their expressions to the English language. Tilak also took active steps to translate these views in practice by promoting Swadeshi industrial activity by associating himself with such ventures as the swadeshi Co-operative Stores and the Paisa Fund Glass works. His associates and disciples like Messrs Shiradkar and Karandikar started a match manufacturing factory at Karad. He gave active guidance to a match manufacturing factory at Ellichpur in Birar. He took interest in the manufacturing of paper also. But his most notable contribution was his incessant writings in the Kesari during 1905 and 1908 not only for what was called only economic swadeshi or honest swadeshi.

Tilak has equally, eloquently  and earnestly pleaded for technical education and commercial education on several occasions. Tilak’s writings in the Kesari collected in four volumes of about 500 to 600 pages each, constitute a great liberal education even today and patriotic public workers, social workers and public servants can still look for inspiration and inspiration and guidance in his writings. While propagating the Swadeshi cult, he did not merely have the consumers in his mind who was asked to purchase swadeshi goods even at a sacrifice. He had the primary producer, the merchant, the petty shopkeeper, and the money-lenders also in his mind.

Mr. sahastrabuddhe of Ellichpur, the proprietor of match factory, once went to see Tilak. Talking to him Tilak said,--In our country, it would be better if small industries are started and scattered all over the country. Manufacture of match boxes, for instance, must be undertaken in all province. Because, the product must not be made more costly by incurrence of transport charges.

Tilak insisted on getting his Geeta-Rahasya printed on swadeshi paper, which was supplied by the Padamji Paper Mill in Bombay.