Vii Swadeshi and Boycott
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VII SWADESHI AND BOYCOTT SWADESHI AND BOYCOTT [The idea of Swadeshi was clearly expounded with its economic implications, in the forties of the last century by the penetrating genius of Lokahitawadi. It was, however, scientifically propounded by Justice Ranade about 1872-73. The propagation and organisation of the idea were carried on methodically under the auspices of the Sarvajanik Sabha by Sarvajanik Kaka (Shri G. V. Joshi) about 1875 and onwards by opening Share Capital Shops at different places. The Commercial aspect of it was seen und understood by men like Ambalal Sakarlal, Premabhai Himabhai, Manibhai Jashbhai of Cutch, Ranchodlal Chotalal and others who formed the Swadeshi Udyam Vardhak Mandali (1876) at Ahmedabad. The Maharaja Sayajirao of Baroda has always encouraged Swadeshi industries. It is interesting to know that as early as the seventies of the last century a leader like Sarvajanik Kaka took a vow to put on hand spun and hand woven khadi. Swadeshi became a political weapon after the partition of Bengal and was followed by its counterpart, boycott of foreign goods. This created a rift in the Congress leaders. Not that the moderates did not appreciate the efficacy of this weapon but perhaps they were not prepared to displease the rulers to that extent. But the Bengali moderates, it appears, differed from them slightly. At Surat Surendranath had declared that " Swadeshi was boycott and boycott was Swadeshi", thus assuring that the principle of boycott was acceptable to them as a political weapon. The extracts given here include one important letter published by the Hon. G. K. Gokhale (June 1894) as the Secretary of the Sarvajanik Sabha calling a. meeting to protest against the Government policy of excluding foreign textile goods from duty. Mr. Gokhale in his letter called upon his friends to take a vow not to purchase Manchester articles until at least duty was imposed on them. The " Kesari" had reproduced this letter (5th February, 1907) when Gokhale was found unwilling to support the boycott movement as a political weapon. The other important extracts show how the wave of this agitation had reached to the remote corners and how the students had taken a prominent part in the demonstration. Kolhapur again came in the forefront when the High School pupils refused to accept for writing the answer papers which were of foreign make. They walked out of the school (September 1905) and boycotted the examination. Prof. Vijapurkar, the staunch propagator of Swadeshi, was made to leave the College and a large number of students were 605 punished. The Gokak incident also shows how the young students organised the processions and threw away the sweetmeats in the street distributed to them by the Collector. In Ahmedabad they had offered to coach students from other provinces like Bengal in the arts of weaving, carding etc. The bonfire of foreign cloth was a more powerful and also aggressive aspect of this agitation. It is note-worthy to find that a bonfire of English clothes was made at Ahmednagar as early as 1896. Shri S. K. Jog, pleader, had taken lead in organising this. They had organised public meeting to protest against cotton duty. They advocated boycott of English goods and on the Holi day they burnt their English clothes in the fire. This bonfire must be among the earliest of its kind in the country. Poona organised a bonfire of cloth and other articles of foreign make (October 1905) and the initiative, it apears, was taken by Shri V. D. Savarkar and his friends. Such bonfires were organised at Nasik, Belgaum and other places also. The constructive part of this movement is found in the text of the vow of Swadeshi which includes propagation of " The meaning of Swaraj ". They had opened an Industrial school at Dharwar. A cap factory for preparing fur caps for muslims who had taken the vow of Swadeshi, was started in Poona. The newspaper extracts show with what unanimity all of them had accepted this weapon.] SWADESHI MOVEMENT (1905 to 1909) [FROM BOMBAY PRESIDENCY POLICE ABSTRACT OF INTELLIGENCE, 1905 TO 1909.] The following extracts give an idea of the intensity and extent of agitation for Swadeshi Movement during the period from 1905 to 1909 : — KOLHAPUR STUDENTS CANED Kolhapur, 16th September 1905 (Page 283, paragraph 927;) The students of the Rajaram High School, Kolhapur, assembled for the Preliminary Examination for candidates for Matriculation, bad issued to them the usual foolscap paper. By what was evidently preconcerted action, they refused to use it as it was of British manufacture and tore the paper up, clamouring for a native-made 606 article. On Mr. Lucy, the Principal, remonstrating with the boys and attempting to restore order, he was insulted. Mr. Lucy declined, therefore, to allow any of the malcontents to take part in the examination unless they testified their penitence by submitting to corporal punishment. After a while, persuaded to that end by Mr. Vijapurkar, the Professor of Sanskrit, they gave in and accepted their canings. Mr. Vijapurkar is a fire-brand and a great supporter of the Swadeshi movement. It is generally believed that he instigated the insubordinate behaviour of the boys, but when he found the result was serious beyond his expectations, used his influence, which immediately allayed the trouble ". THE POLITICAL AGENT OF KOLHAPUR WRITES Kolhapur, 23rd September 1905. (Page 291, Paragraph 944.) " In continuation of my report last week on the insubordinate behaviour of the boys of the Rajaram High School in refusing to use paper of British manufacture for their examination, I understand that about 50 boys were implicated and all received canings on the hand. The outbreak was clearly pre-concerted, and none of the masters, of whom all were present, gave the slightest assistance to the Principal or Vice-Principal in maintaining order. The temperate action of Mr. Lucy has not been appreciated, and there is still a spirit of insubordination abroad in the school. The emeute commenced by a boy holding up a piece of paper and drawing the attention of the others to the fact that there was a crown on it; he then tore it up, as did all the others. " Having regard to the disloyalty to Government displayed, I have cancelled my undertaking to preside at the prize-giving ceremony, which was to have taken place to-morrow, and have requested Mr. Lucy to inform the school that, as the representative of Government at Kolhapur, I decline, under the circumstances, to do them, that honour. There will be no prize giving this year. His Highness is much incensed at the behaviour of the boys and masters and has dispensed with the services of Professor Vijapurkar as a person not fitted to be the guide of the youth. Other masters will, I understand, be removed or transferred. Mr. Lucy informs me that he has told the rebellious students, who want to appear for the Matriculation Examination, that they have rendered it impossible for him to grant them the certificate of good moral character, without which they are unable to appear. This will, I think, have a good effect". 607 TILAK TO MEET WATCHA (Page 292, paragraph 944.) Bal Gangadhar Tilak arrived in Bombay on the 18th instant, put up with Mahadev Rajaram Bodas at Girgaum Back Road and returned to Poona on the 20th idem. The object of his visit to Bombay was, it is said, to interview Dinshaw Edalji Watcha for the purpose of asking him to exert his influence with the Bombay Mill-owners with a view to encouraging the Swadeshi movement by supplying Bengal merchants with dhotis produced at the mills of Bombay at a moderate rate. It is said that a private meeting of some of the mill-owners was held at the residence of Mr. Watcha, in which the question was discussed. The mill-owners, however, looked at the question from a purely business point of view and declined to supply any goods except at market rates. The undernoted mills have agreed to supply dhotis : — (1) Swadeshi Mills (Agents, Tata and Sons), Coorla. (2) Khatau Makanji Mills, Haines Road. (3) The Bombay United Spinning and Weaving Co. Ltd., Charni Road ". MEETING AT POONA Poona, 9th October 1905. (Page 322, Paragraph 984.) At 6 p.m. on the 1st instant a mass meeting of the students was held in Joshi Hall under the presidency of Narsinha Chintaman Kelkar, who addressed the meeting. He said that the action of the students in support of the Swadeshi movement was justifiable and condemned the actions of the Amraoti and Kolhapur school authorities in punishing the students who supported it in these places, and the dismissing of Professor Vishnu Govind Vijapurkar. After this several students spoke, among them one Savarkar spoke strongly urging his countrymen to despise everything that is English and to abstain from purchasing foreign goods. He suggested that all 608 students should burn their clothes made of English and foreign cloth on Dassera day at Lakdipool. The following resolutions were passed : — (1) That the Students of Poona fully sympathise with the students of Amraoti and KoIhapur for the injustice done to them by the Educational Authorities. (2) That after the annual examination is over the students should work as volunteers of the movement. (3) That all English and European-made clothes now in use be burnt in a fire to be specially created for the purpose at Vithal Mandir near Lakdipool on Dessera. Ex-Professor Paranjpe and the President in eulogizing the student-speakers said that the effect of their speeches would be far-reaching in their effects on the minds of the people.