Q. Discuss the Swadeshi Movement and its impact ?

Ans.

The nationalists, during the agitation against the partition of Bengal, used two weapons of Swadeshi and boycott to press the government to accept their demands. The Swadeshi propagated the use of the Swadeshi goods i.e. things produced in the country. It would help to develop Indian Industries. It would also strengthen the feelings of partiotism and nationalism.
The propagation of Swadeshi was accompanied by the boycott of foreign goods. It would pave the way for ; the industrial development of the country. Boycott also implied the boycott of the British schools, colleges and universities. It meant to boycott everything connected with the British rule.
The Congress sessions of Benaras (1905) and that of Calcutta (1906) supported the Swadeshi and Boycott movements. This movement spread from Bengal to many other parts of the country. The people boycotted British goods and picketed shops selling foreign cloth. The Government took stern measures to suppress the people who took part in this agitation.
The boycott and Swadeshi movement became the means to win freedom from the British rule. It inspired the Indians to make greater use of Indian goods. The movement gave much encouragement to Indian industries. The Indians established many textile mills, soap and match factories, handioom weaving factories, national banks and insurance companies. The movement also influenced Indian literature. Nationalist poetry and prose flourished. Works of Rabindra Nath Tagore, Rajni Kant Sen and Mukanda Das became popular. The movement also provided opportunity to the nationalists to lead a popular struggle against British rule and unite the whole country against it.