Context:
Following revelations under Operation Sindoor, which reportedly exposed threats posed by China and Türkiye to India’s sovereignty and trade interests, the Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM) has intensified its economic nationalism campaign.
Launch of Nationwide Campaign
- Campaign Name: Swadeshi Suraksha evam Swavlamban Abhiyan
- Location of Launch: Delhi
- Target Audience: Industrialists, traders, and farmers across India
- Aim:
- To raise mass awareness about the dangers of e-commerce monopolies
- Promote Indian-made (swadeshi) products
- Encourage economic self-reliance (Atmanirbharta)
Swadeshi Movement (1905)
- The Swadeshi Movement was launched in 1905 in protest against the Partition of Bengal by the British.
- It emphasized economic self-sufficiency, national pride, and the boycott of British goods, aiming to lay the foundation for political independence.
Key Objectives and Aspects
- Boycott of Foreign Goods: Advocated rejection of British-manufactured goods, especially textiles, in favor of Indian products like Khadi.
- Promotion of Swadeshi Goods: Encouraged local manufacturing and consumption of Indian goods to revive indigenous industries.
- National Unity and Cultural Pride: Aimed to unite Indians across regions by fostering shared economic interests and cultural identity.
- Economic Independence: Focused on reducing dependency on British goods and developing self-reliant local economies.
- Political Mobilization: Served as an early platform for political education and resistance, building a grassroots nationalist movement.
- Emergence of Nationalism: Inspired a surge in nationalist sentiment and the belief in India’s capability to govern and sustain itself.
