The Swadeshi Movement : Culmination of Cultural Nationalism Dr
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Orissa Review * August - 2005 On the Eve of Centenary Celebration The Swadeshi Movement : Culmination of Cultural Nationalism Dr. D.D. Pattanaik While having a critical discourse on freedom was in fact the beginning of the internalization of struggle it is urgently required to cast glance over appeasement policy. Those were nothing but a monumental lapse, i.e., on the great Swadeshi populist reactions marginalizing the vitality of the Movement. This was the first great people's nation cropping out of the entire panorama of movement to reckon with, being spearheaded by history. Thus it was also the beginning of the great nationalists of the day. Its simple reason polarization of political ideology which was earlier is owing to the ideological concern of the present confined within the Extremists and Moderates on day politics. Whatever the excuse put forward their approaches to the alien rule. by this school or the other it is obviously a national blunder, and thus evokes introspection at The upsurge of 1905 was not accentuated academic plane. in a single day. But it was the fallout of a thought- process cropping up since the year 1875 when Every movement owes to some ideological the Arya Samaj made its headway. Hindu identity context or other, but in case of the Swadeshi of Indian nationalism was carried aloft by a Movement of 1905-07 it is more so. It constitutes number of religio-reformatory organizations like a great stride in the annals of modern history so Hindu Mela of Nabagopal Mitra and Raj Narain much so that it was the cumulative effect of an Bose (18676-1880), Prarthana Sabha of indigenous Indian nationalist thought-structure or Atmaram Pandurang in 1867, one 'Patit Pawan what may be called, the genuine Indian variant of Samaj' in 1880,3 'Arya Mahila Samaj;' of Pandit nationalism. It underscored the expression of Rambai,4 one 'Gayan Samaj' at Poone in 18745 veritable soul of Indian nationhood in right Society for Protection of Hindu Religion by perspective. But it was dubbed as sectarian or communal approach to the Indian society.1 First Chapekar brothers in 1890's, Mitra Mela (later in the jargon came forward the comment from Abhinav Bharat) of Savarkar brothers at Nasik none but Jawaharlal Nehru who was then (1907) in 1899, and the like. Publication of Bankim studying in Cambridge. Reacting to the concept Chandra's novel 'Ananda Math' in 1883, of nationalism of Aurobindo and others of the Vivekananda's Chicago sojourn in 1893, Annie Congress Nationalists, Nehru was worried as to Besant's arrival in Indian same year, Ganapati what would happen to one-third population Festival by Tilak in 1894 and Shivaji Mahotsav (implying the Muslims) who had remained in this in 1896, and Aurobindo's celebration of Kali country from centuries.2 This kind of apprehension Puja in 1904 had basically buttressed the Hindu 9 Orissa Review * August - 2005 cultural dimension of Hindu identity and Hindu practices. When they talked of reforms without pride translated in the form of Hindu nationalism loving the society it looked as if an alien force or what may be called Cultural Nationalism in was invading. Debased imported copy book Indian perspective. Religious fervour was given maxims were their creed, and they liked to vent to patriotism true to Hindu tradition so much perceive Indian nationalism and construct in that so that 90% of the Hindu sermons depict the paradigm. It is evident from Keshav Chandra cultural geography of India while giving 10% scope Sen's remark that to the liberal reformers (the to metaphysics. Bharat was adorned as 'Mata' - moderates) the spirit of Christianity had already exact incarnation of Jagadamba as expressed by pervaded the whole atmosphere of Indian society Vivekananda and earlier which had been and they used to breath, think, feel and move in a assiduously sketched by Bankim Chandra. Christian atmosphere.12 Hence, the Nationalists Extremism in the Congress hierarchy threw candid challenge to it, which was amply surfaced to provide expression of resilience Hindu demonstrated in the great Swadeshi movement. nationalism. Of course Tilak did not like the Bal Gangadhar Tilak had been consistently expression 'extremism' appended to them.6 Lal emphasizing on 'Swaraj' as the birth right of Chand, without mincing word, declared that the people right since 1896. He availed the support Congress would specifically take the cause of the of likeminded heavy weights like Bipin Chandra Hindus.7 Bal Gangadhar Tilak expressed in full Pal, Lala Lajpat Rai and Aurobindo Ghose in his voice his Hindu sentiment in the Congress platform rank. In the Kashi Congress Session they could which was steadily drifting towards pursue to get inserted their cherished goal of westernization. He glorified Hinduism at the Swaraj in spite of disenchantment of the expense of western culture. Aurobindo Ghose Moderates; and next year in Calcutta even under challenged the right of a foreign imperialism to the presidentship of Dadabhai Narojee the force an "inferior civilization" of India.8 The resolutions of Swaraj. Swadeshi, Boycott and nationalists (the title the 'extremists' liked to have) National Education received official stamp. Finally spoke of a Hindu nation and the protection of the concept of Swaraj was tinged with Hindu interests on political level.9 K.P. Swadharma and Swabhasa. This kind of Karunakaran holds that Hindu nationalism indigenous world view inextricably interwoven became the creed of the extremists.10 They drew with the land and society became the inbuilt sustenance from India's age-old glorious heritage intellectual bedrock by the turn of the century. and appealed to the Indians by invoking religious Thus by the year 1905 the wheel of history turned patriotism.11 to the side of the Nationalists. In the contrary, the Moderates were the The year 1905 is a watershed in Indian veritable apologists of western culture and history. The entire scenario of the Swadeshi education, and they interpreted and reacted in movement is ascribed to the Partition of Bengal. western perception. For seven decades they were It was a mischievous design to divide Bengal in fed on the distilled intellectual diets of Burke, order to contain the revolutionary forces. It was Bentham, Hume, Mill, Spencer, Darwin and the so divided as if to shape the future territory of like, and their mind-set did not budget out of it. Pakisthan-Muslim majority East Bengal being Rather they ridiculed Indian tradition, belief and carved out ! Even the Secretary of State for India 10 Orissa Review * August - 2005 was reluctant on the move. But Lord Curzon could has now come for her to import it into other obtain the consent clandestinely on 19th July nations, who are on the verge of decadence.15 1905. The notification was published a month later 'Bande Mataram' edited by Aurobindo inviting widespread anger and fury. A huge Ghose and Bipin Chandra Pal wrote, "Swaraj as gathering met at the Town Hall of Calcutta on 7th a sort of European ideal...... will not awaken India. August in order to protest the "cruel wrong". It Swaraj as the fulfillment of the ancient life of India may be assumed as the unofficial inauguration of under modern conditions, the return of the the Anti-Partition Movement. Soon it turned into 'Satyayuga' (era of the truth) of national greatness, the fateful Swadeshi Movement and spread over the resumption of her great role of teacher and the whole country. guide, self-liberation of the people for the final Tilak exhorted to the people to uphold the fulfillment of the Vedantic ideal in politics, this is dignity of the nation rolling down the long vista of the true Swaraj for India". It continued," The history. He expected that by the grace of groundwork of what may well be called the providence they would consolidate themselves as composite culture of India is undoubtedly Hindu. a mighty Hindu nation, and it would be the Though the present Indian nationality is composed objective of every Hindu. In his words, "I go of many races, and the present culture of more further and say that it is our 'Dharma', you cannot than one world civilization, yet it must be admitted separate Home Rule from us, as you cannot that the Hindu forms its base and centre.....The separate the quality of heat from fire".13 dominant role of Hindu culture, its sense of the By synthesizing religion and political spiritual and universal, will, therefore, be the agenda, or for that matter religion and nationalism, peculiar feature of this composite Indian the nationalists in effect, created Hindu nationalism nationality.....And the type of spirituality that it and awake the masses.14 Aurobindo, the hero of seeks to develop is essentially Hindu." Similarly the Swadeshi movement, attempted to rationalize Lala Lajpat Rai wrote,"The spiritual note of the this dimension in his work "Dayananda-Bankim- present Nationalist Movement in India is entirely Tilak". He infused mysticism to nationalism.It derived from......Vedantic thought". upheld the Hindu ideals and idioms, and there was Historian B.B.Mazumdar sketched that the no escape from it since it was the reality in view "militant nationalism" (as it was branded) was of the chequered cultural history of India. It predominantly a Hindu movement.16 Swadeshi seemed natural to retrieve the lost glory and was deeply rooted in all classes of Hindu vitality. It is not a matter of racial arrogance, but community.17 Another historian is given to rediscovery of the soul of the nation. understand that extremism in Indian politics was Aurobindo observed in the editorial of much a response to the challenge of haphazard and esteemed paper "Bande Mataram" that Hindus' superficial westernization of Indian life.