Swadeshi Movement and Boycott Movement (1905-1908)

The Swadeshi movement was a self-sufficiency movement that was a part of the Indian independence movement and helped to shape Indian nationalism. The Swadeshi movement began in 1905 as a unified reaction to Bengal’s partition and lasted until 1908. It was, in fact, the most successful of the pre-Gandhian movements. After the British Government’s decision to partition Bengal was made public in December 1903, there was widespread dissatisfaction among Indians. In response, the Swadeshi movement was formally launched on August 7, 1905, from Town Hall Calcutta, with the goal of reducing reliance on foreign goods in favor of domestic production. 

Background

• The movement arose from the anti-partition movement, which was formed in response to Lord Curzon’s decision to divide the province of Bengal.
• Moderates launched the Anti-Partition Campaign to put pressure on the government to prevent the unjust partition of Bengal from taking place.
• Petitions were sent to the government, public meetings were held, and ideas were disseminated through newspapers such as Hitabadi, Sanjibani, and Bengalee.
• The partition sparked protests in Bengal, where the pledge to boycott foreign goods was first made.

Partition of Bengal

The Partition of Bengal (1905) was a territorial reorganization of the Bengal Presidency carried out by British Raj authorities. The reorganisation divided the predominantly Muslim eastern areas from the predominantly Hindu western areas. Lord Curzon, the then-Viceroy of India, announced it on 20 July 1905, and it went into effect on 16 October 1905, only to be reversed six years later. The Hindus of West Bengal objected to the division, claiming that it would make them a minority in a province that would include Bihar and Orissa. Hindus were outraged by what they saw as a “divide and rule” policy, despite Curzon’s assurances that it would result in administrative efficiency. 

Background

• The Bengal Presidency included the states of Bengal, Bihar, and parts of Chhattisgarh, Orissa, and Assam. It was British India’s largest province, with a population of 78.5 million people.
• For decades, British officials claimed that the massive size made effective management difficult and resulted in neglect of the poorer eastern region. The partition had been proposed solely for administrative purposes.
• As a result, Curzon intended to divide Orissa and Bihar and unite fifteen eastern districts of Bengal with Assam.
• The eastern province had a population of 31 million people, the majority of whom were Muslims, and its capital was Dhaka. Curzon stated after the Partition that he considered the new province to be Muslim.
• Lord Curzon’s intention was not to separate Hindus and Muslims, but rather to separate Bengalis.
• The Western districts, along with Orissa and Bihar, formed the other province.
• The union of western Bengal with Orissa and Bihar reduced Bengali speakers to a minority.
• Muslims, led by Dhaka’s Nawab Sallimullah, supported partition, while Hindus opposed it.

Features

• The British Government decided to partition Bengal in December 1903. Lord Curzon was the viceroy of India at that time who made this decision.
• Bengal was divided into two provinces:
  • First was Bengal comprising of Western Bengal as well as the provinces of Bihar and Orissa.
  • The second was Eastern Bengal and Assam.
• Bengal retained Calcutta as its capital while Dacca was chosen as the capital for Eastern Bengal.
• The real motive of partition was the desire to weaken Bengal which was at the center of Indian Nationalism in the early 20th century.
• The official reason given for the decision of partition was that Bengal with a population of 78 million had become difficult to administer.
• The administrative division was on the basis of:
  • Linguistic Basis: Reducing the Bengalis to a minority in Bengal itself. The new proposal of Bengal was provisioned to have 17 million Bengalis and 37 million Hindi and Oriya speakers.
  • Religion Basis: The western Bengal was to be a Hindu majority area and the Eastern Bengal was to be a Muslim majority area.
• Lord Curzon was trying to woo Muslims. He argues that Dacca could become the capital of the new Muslim majority province which would provide them with unity.
• Thus, the British wanted to create Muslim communalists to counter the Congress and national movement.