Question

How did the idea of Swadeshi help Indians to be united against the British?

Answer 1

'Swadeshi' literally means 'of one's own country'. It aimed at the promotion of indigenous industries for strengthening the nation. According to Lala Lajpatrai, "The Swadeshi movement ought to make us self-respecting, self-reliant, self-supporting".

Swadeshi & boycott movements marked the beginning of a new era in India's freedom struggle. These movements brought into politics new classes of people without any distinction of caste & creed. It taught the press to be effective, students to rebel, Hindus & Muslims to cooperate & people to think about their country. Many zamindars who had been loyal to the British joined the movement as well. Women too participated in large numbers.