Eternal India Encyclopedia

Eternal India encyclopedia

FREEDOM MOVEMENT

Swadeshi: "That the Congress accords its most cordial support to the Swadeshi movement, and calls upon the people of the country’ to promote the growth of indigenous industries and to stimulate the production of indigenous articles by giving them preference over imported commodities even at some sacrifice." National Education: "That in the opinion of this Congress the time has arrived for the people all over the country’ earnestly to take up the question of National Education for both boys and girls, and organize a system of education -literary, scientific and technical- suited to the requirements of the country on National lines and under National control." Presiding over the session Dadabhai spoke on 'the need for agitation' and opined that the partition of Bengal is a bad blunder for Eng- land. He said "In the Bengal partition, the Bengalees have a just and great grievance. It is a bad blunder, for England. But in connec- tion with it we hear a great deal about agita- tors and agitation. Agitation is the life and soul of the whole political, social and indus- trial history of England. It is by agitation the English have accomplished their most glori- ous achievements, their prosperity, their lib- erties, and in short their first place among the Nations of the World. The whole life of England, every day is all agitation.... from the Prime Minister to the humblest politician his occupation is agita- tion for everything he wants to accomplish. The whole Parliament, Press and Platform is simply all agitation. Agitation is the civilized peaceful weapon of moral force, and infinitely preferable to brute physical force when pos- sible.... It is the conventional way of approach- ing higher authorities.... to influence and put pressure on Parliament by showing how the public regard any particular matter. The fact that we have more or less failed hitherto is not because we have petitioned too much but that we have petitioned too little.... Inform the Indian people what their rights are and why and how they should obtain them, and inform the British people of the rights of the Indian people and why they should grant them. If we do not speak, they say we are satisfied. If we speak, we become agitators. The Indian people are properly asked to act constitutionally while the government remains unconstitutional and despotic."

The devotion to Motherland, which is en- shrined in the highest Swadeshi, is an influ- ence so profound and so passionate that its very thought thrills and its actual touch lifts one out of oneself.... It turns their thoughts to their country, accustoms them to the idea of voluntarily making some sacrifice for her sake, enables them to take an intelligent interest in her economic development and teaches them the important lesson of co- operating with one another for a national end." Our Aims and Aspirations: "The goal of the Congress is that India should be gov- erned in the interests of the Indians them- selves, and that in course of time a form of government should be attained in this coun- try similar to what exists in the self-gov- erning Colonies of the British Empire. It is liberty alone, says Mr. Gladstone in words of profound wisdom, which fits men for liberty. This proposition, like every other in politics, has its bounds; but it is far safer than the counter-doctrine: 'wait till they are fit” During this session 4 resolutions on 'self-government, boycott, Swadeshi and National Education' were passed: ' Self- government:' "Resolved that this Congress is of opinion that the system of Government ob- taining in the Self-governing British colonies should be extended to India. All examinations held in England only should be simultaneously held in India and in England, and that all higher appoint- ments which are made in India should be by competitive examinations only: The adequate representation of Indians in the Council of the Secretary of State. The expansion of the supreme and pro- vincial legislative councils, The power of local and municipal bodies should be extended." Boycott movement: "This Congress is of opinion that the boycott movement inaugurated in Bengal by way of protest against the Partition of that province, was and is, legitimate." XXII - session - 1906 - Calcutta President: Dadabhai Naoroji.

prolonged and assiduous devotion. Read his- tory. Learn jrom it the estimable lesson of pa- tience and fortitude and the self-sacrificing devotion which a constitutional struggle for constitutional liberty involves ......... Chaitanya and Nanak, Tukaram and Ramdas lift the mind high up to the sublimer eminence of the divine ideal. India of the past is rich in these examples ..... India is the cradle of true religions. It is the holy land of the East. Here knowledge first lit her torch. Here, in the morning of the world the Vedic Rishis sang those hymns which represent the first yearnings of infant humanity towards the divine ideal. Here was developed a literature and a lan- guage which still excites the admiration of mankind - a philosophy which pondered deep over the problems of life and evolved solutions which satisfied the highest yearnings of the loftiest minds.... Japan is our spiritual pupil. China and Siberia and the islands of the East- ern Archipelago turn with reverend eyes to the land where was born the prophet of their faith. Our pupils have out-distanced us; and where are we, hesitating, doubting, calculat- ing...." - session - 1905 - Benaras President: Gopalakrishna Gokhale. The Congress passed resolutions about the partition of Bengal and other matters: "That this Congress records its emphatic protest against the partition of Bengal, this Congress appeals to the Gov- ernment of India and the Secretary of State to reverse or modify the arrangements made, in such a manner as to conciliate public opinion and allay the excitement and unrest present among all classes of the people ....." That this "Congress deplores a fresh outbreak of famine in several parts of the country....; This Congress is of opinion that the prosperity of an agricultural country like India cannot be secured without a definite limitation of the state demand on land." Gopalakrishna Gokhale's Presidential speech: "Gentlemen, I will now say a few words on the Swadeshi movement....the true Swadeshi movement is both a patriotic and an economic movement. The idea of Swadeshi or "one's own country " is one of the noblest conceptions that have ever stirred the heart of humanity. As the poet asks- Breathes there the man with soul so dead XXI

Madame Cama's Flag hoisted at International Socialist Congress at Stuttgart, 1907

Who never to himself hath said, - This is my own. my native land.

The First National Flag, 1906 V _____________________ _ ________ 5! ______________________/