Page 71 - SST Class 08

movement hit the British economy hard and
(home-made goods). They did not want to depend
on government’s mercy, rather they demanded strengthened the national movement. The people
these things as their right. Bal Gangadhar Tilak openly challenged the British by lighting bonfire
of the British goods in heaps.
declared, “Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have
it.” They also rejected the aim of self-government As the British economy rested on the colonial
for India under the suzerainty of the British. They markets, it was hit hard. Students, women and
declared that their aim was complete common people took active part in the
independence. The extremist leaders protested in movement. The Congress soon adopted this
the form of hartals, rallies, demonstrations, movement and it became a part and parcel of the
processions and picketing. national movement.
The important extremist leaders were Lala Lajpat Differences between Moderates and
Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal. Extremists
Together they were known as Lal-Bal-Pal . Another The moderates and the extremists had different
important extremist leader was Aurobindo Ghosh.
opinions on the use of Swadeshi and Boycott. The
extremists wanted to use these weapons against
the British at all times and they favoured all-out
agitation. On the other hand, the moderates
wanted to use these weapons as extreme methods
under special circumstances for a limited period
and specific purpose.

Impact of Swadeshi and Boycott Movement
Lal-Bal-Pal Aurobindo Ghosh
This movement had favourable impact on the
Swadeshi and Boycott
Indian industries and craftsmen as the people
The extremist leaders realized that the British had started to use indigenous goods. The shopkeepers
continued to stay in India due to economic too boycotted the foreign goods. Due to this, the
causes, because they made huge profits from their British economic interests were severely harmed.
economic activities. According to them, the British Surat Split
would never ease their control so far they made
The differences between the moderates and the
huge profits from here. So, they advocated the use
of Swadeshi and Boycott. By ‘Swadeshi’ is meant extremists went on increasing. The extremists
advocated the boycott of foreign goods, use of
of one’s own country and by ‘Boycott’ is meant to
Swadeshi goods and proposed a National Scheme
not use anything foreign , and this included British
schools, colleges, universities, courts of law and of Education with a view to boycott the
government educational institutions. They also
other facilities. Thus, the two terms were like two
sides of the same coin. The Swadeshi movement wanted the Congress to declare Swaraj as the
was used to encourage the native craftsmen, while ultimate goal.
the Boycott movement was aimed at harming the However, the moderates were not prepared to
economic interests of the British. take such aggressive steps which could bring them
in direct conflict with the government. The
The Swadeshi and
Boycott Movement was differences came to the surface in the Congress
session of 1906, but Dada Bhai Naoroji
started on 7 August,
1905. The people were succeeded in pacifying the two groups. However,
this conflict could not be avoided in 1907 at the
urged to adopt the
Congress session in Poona. As the number of the
Swadeshi goods and
discard the machine- Bonfire of foreign moderates was more, the extremists were turned
made foreign goods. This goods in 1907 out of the Congress.
Nationalist Movement (1885-1919)
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