Freedom is now 70 years old and our nation is celebrating its Bhimaratha Shanthi next week. Lets hope that the monsoons bathe it with real wealth and prosperity. Thanks to the liberal economic practices ushered in over 25 years ago by P.V.Narasimha Rao, the visionary Prime Minister, our people are economically free and the results are beginning to show. We are now once again connected to global commerce and have good chances of leading the world. Its at this time that it becomes imperative that we revisit our freedom struggle and particularly the boycott of foreign goods initiated by Mahatma Gandhi. The wise and diplomatic cum non violent methods of Gandhi will forever continue to offer guidance for Indians during the times to come. Let us celebrate the 70 years of independence by revisiting the events that led to the same.
The industrial revolution and foreign rule had crippled domestic production and commerce. Prior to all this, both India and China enjoyed a huge percentage of global commerce which was in proportion to their population. India in particular had cities which were a home away from home for merchants belonging to other countries and our classical literature talks about several such instances. The handwoven textiles of India were loved by the rest of the world and about 100 ports in the peninsula were engaged in vibrant commerce. A lot of gold and silver had been earned as foreign exchange as an outcome of the same. However this was not to be forever and British rule accompanied by the industrial revolution and the master - servant approach put an end to commerce by India on the high seas. The value of India's international commerce became so insignificant that it was seldom spoken about. Our arts, crafts and industry along with agriculture began to perish and the Eswara Varudathu Panjam or the great famine of the year 1877 saw millions perish or suffer while the masters at Europe prospered. Mahatma Gandhi did a study of all this and took up the cause of Swadeshi during the year 1921.
The great messiah did a thorough analysis of the situation at the very start. One must remember that his Champaran Satygraha was successful because of his study and direct contact. He was clever enough to ensure that all the leading lights were involved in the process. Gandhi involved himself in the process of speaking about the boycott of foreign goods in the months of July, August and September of the year 1921. He led the burning of foreign fabric at Parel on the 31 st of July 1921 and thousands joined him on the same day and they emulated him. About Rs.1,50,000 worth of goods were consigned to the flames and people took a pledge to use Indian clothes thereafter. Gandhiji addressed the public the next day and stated, "We have to be true Swadeshis and the fire that was created yesterday was a much required sacrificial fire. The fire destroyed everything that was not required from the outside and the inside, the process of internal purification will destroy the weaknesses that are plaguing us".
Gandhiji tried to impress upon the people that import of foreign fabric was draining our resources to the extent of Rs.60 crores per annum those days. He went on to argue that if the money was spent on handlooms internally it could provide employment for millions besides ensuring that the resources stayed within an arms length of the populace. The colonial masters had been threatening the weavers while also ensuring that they could not get good yarn for weaving. Indian cotton and money were used to make India poorer by the English and they did it with scientific precision. The import of foreign goods reduced as a consequence of Gandhiji's campaign. In the year 1930, the imports came down to a third. Cigarette imports became a sixth compared to the earlier year and about 16 mills belonging to the British at Mumbai were shut down due to the efforts of Gandhi.
Meanwhile the mills which had signed the anti import declaration were working day and night. These mills belonged to Indians and they had agreed not to spin yarn below the number 18 (count). A total of 113 mills had signed this pledge and the demand for Khadi grew enormously thereafter. This resulted in the sale of all the surplus Khadi and production increased by about 70%. The benefits for the people were huge while the colonial masters lost a lot of tax revenues due the Swadeshi initiative spearheaded by Mahatma Gandhi. The boycott of foreign fabrics helped more than 6494 villages villages produce Khadi - about 139969 spinners and 11426 weavers got opportunities to work. Hundreds were incarcerated for participating in the boycott. Gandhiji understood that freedom should in the real sense and not merely political freedom. Therefore he made sure that the masses were carried along democratically throughout the freedom struggle.
Gandhiji had very smartly handled the boycott of foreign goods. First of all people destroyed their own stuff and did not cause any harm to others. The entire process was non violent and the level of awareness with regard to foreign goods draining our country was enhanced in a big way. Besides all this this protest sent a strong message to the English without hating or intimidating them. No wonder our country could maintain a good relationship with England even after independence. We must understand that due to a different approach from both the sides our country could not deal with Portugal post the liberation of Goa. The general public understood the value of self respect due to this novel boycott. Additionally Gandhiji made the people understand that English commercial interests were plundering our country and its resources in the name of modern commerce. If not for the efforts of Gandhiji several weaving methods would have disappeared for eternity. Post independence it became possible for Kamaladevi Chattopadhyaya (Founder - Crafts Council of India) to take up the revival of several of the ancient weaves and crafts thanks to the freedom struggle and the Swadeshi initiative of Mahatma Gandhi. Wearing Khadi became honourable and several Indians continued to wear Khadi all their life for they felt that propagating Khadi would be the true tribute to the Mahatma.
The experiences of Gandhiji in South Africa, his interactions with Gopalakrishna Gokhale, Lokamanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Sir Phiroz Shah Mehta and many others gave him a fair idea of the situation. His travel all over the country helped him to grasp the priorities of the people and connect it with the freedom movement. This revitalised our country in a non violent positive manner and Mahatma Gandhi ultimately became the Father of our Nation due to his vision and sacrifices in the interest of the people. Several Indians understood the ecological benefits of leading the Gandhian way of life and the Gandhian approach to the village economy which would ensure that happy villages will result in a happy nation.
The industrial revolution and foreign rule had crippled domestic production and commerce. Prior to all this, both India and China enjoyed a huge percentage of global commerce which was in proportion to their population. India in particular had cities which were a home away from home for merchants belonging to other countries and our classical literature talks about several such instances. The handwoven textiles of India were loved by the rest of the world and about 100 ports in the peninsula were engaged in vibrant commerce. A lot of gold and silver had been earned as foreign exchange as an outcome of the same. However this was not to be forever and British rule accompanied by the industrial revolution and the master - servant approach put an end to commerce by India on the high seas. The value of India's international commerce became so insignificant that it was seldom spoken about. Our arts, crafts and industry along with agriculture began to perish and the Eswara Varudathu Panjam or the great famine of the year 1877 saw millions perish or suffer while the masters at Europe prospered. Mahatma Gandhi did a study of all this and took up the cause of Swadeshi during the year 1921.
The great messiah did a thorough analysis of the situation at the very start. One must remember that his Champaran Satygraha was successful because of his study and direct contact. He was clever enough to ensure that all the leading lights were involved in the process. Gandhi involved himself in the process of speaking about the boycott of foreign goods in the months of July, August and September of the year 1921. He led the burning of foreign fabric at Parel on the 31 st of July 1921 and thousands joined him on the same day and they emulated him. About Rs.1,50,000 worth of goods were consigned to the flames and people took a pledge to use Indian clothes thereafter. Gandhiji addressed the public the next day and stated, "We have to be true Swadeshis and the fire that was created yesterday was a much required sacrificial fire. The fire destroyed everything that was not required from the outside and the inside, the process of internal purification will destroy the weaknesses that are plaguing us".
Gandhiji tried to impress upon the people that import of foreign fabric was draining our resources to the extent of Rs.60 crores per annum those days. He went on to argue that if the money was spent on handlooms internally it could provide employment for millions besides ensuring that the resources stayed within an arms length of the populace. The colonial masters had been threatening the weavers while also ensuring that they could not get good yarn for weaving. Indian cotton and money were used to make India poorer by the English and they did it with scientific precision. The import of foreign goods reduced as a consequence of Gandhiji's campaign. In the year 1930, the imports came down to a third. Cigarette imports became a sixth compared to the earlier year and about 16 mills belonging to the British at Mumbai were shut down due to the efforts of Gandhi.
Meanwhile the mills which had signed the anti import declaration were working day and night. These mills belonged to Indians and they had agreed not to spin yarn below the number 18 (count). A total of 113 mills had signed this pledge and the demand for Khadi grew enormously thereafter. This resulted in the sale of all the surplus Khadi and production increased by about 70%. The benefits for the people were huge while the colonial masters lost a lot of tax revenues due the Swadeshi initiative spearheaded by Mahatma Gandhi. The boycott of foreign fabrics helped more than 6494 villages villages produce Khadi - about 139969 spinners and 11426 weavers got opportunities to work. Hundreds were incarcerated for participating in the boycott. Gandhiji understood that freedom should in the real sense and not merely political freedom. Therefore he made sure that the masses were carried along democratically throughout the freedom struggle.
Gandhiji had very smartly handled the boycott of foreign goods. First of all people destroyed their own stuff and did not cause any harm to others. The entire process was non violent and the level of awareness with regard to foreign goods draining our country was enhanced in a big way. Besides all this this protest sent a strong message to the English without hating or intimidating them. No wonder our country could maintain a good relationship with England even after independence. We must understand that due to a different approach from both the sides our country could not deal with Portugal post the liberation of Goa. The general public understood the value of self respect due to this novel boycott. Additionally Gandhiji made the people understand that English commercial interests were plundering our country and its resources in the name of modern commerce. If not for the efforts of Gandhiji several weaving methods would have disappeared for eternity. Post independence it became possible for Kamaladevi Chattopadhyaya (Founder - Crafts Council of India) to take up the revival of several of the ancient weaves and crafts thanks to the freedom struggle and the Swadeshi initiative of Mahatma Gandhi. Wearing Khadi became honourable and several Indians continued to wear Khadi all their life for they felt that propagating Khadi would be the true tribute to the Mahatma.
The experiences of Gandhiji in South Africa, his interactions with Gopalakrishna Gokhale, Lokamanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Sir Phiroz Shah Mehta and many others gave him a fair idea of the situation. His travel all over the country helped him to grasp the priorities of the people and connect it with the freedom movement. This revitalised our country in a non violent positive manner and Mahatma Gandhi ultimately became the Father of our Nation due to his vision and sacrifices in the interest of the people. Several Indians understood the ecological benefits of leading the Gandhian way of life and the Gandhian approach to the village economy which would ensure that happy villages will result in a happy nation.