Question

What was the positive effect of the Swadeshi Movement on the National Movement?

Answer 1

Hint: Swadeshi Movement received official proclamation in August $7^{th}$, 1905 at the Calcutta Town Hall. The idea of the movement was suggested by the journal written by Krishna Kumar Mitra named Sanjivani.

Complete Answer:
The Swadeshi Movement is said to be one of the most successful movements before Gandhi took over the national movement. The major cause of the movement was the partition of Bengal in 1905 which was seen by Indians as a tactic for separating the Hindus and the Muslims and implementing the Divide and Rule policy. However, there were other reasons which also agitated The Indians and started The Swadeshi Movement like growing awareness among the public about the way and extent of economic exploitation by the British through the drain of wealth policy, deploying funds to sectors like railways, etc. instead of agriculture and education.
The people boycotted all the foreign goods and even burnt them. Various examples like refusing books made of foreign paper by students, using khadi or locally manufactured clothes and various other things, promotion of indigenous industries, education through vernacular languages and local schools, celebration of Raksha Bandhan by tying threads on each other’s wrists by Hindus and Muslims, etc.
The impact of the Swadeshi Movement was revolutionary. It brought a sense of awareness amongst the public. The policy of Divide and Rule by the British took a different turn and the people stood united with each other all the more. People participated in large numbers and most of the participation was from women and children. Boycotting of foreign goods led to decrease in foreign imports and boosting of locally manufactured goods. The true nature of British rule was brought to light through extensive coverage by newspapers and other media. Eventually, the British had to offer concessions by introducing the Morley-Minto reforms in 1909.

Note: The concepts of The Swadeshi Movement were later used by Gandhi during the Non-cooperation and Civil Disobedience Movements leading to India’s independence from the British rule.