Babu Nabendra Nath Sen: Voice of the Swadeshi Struggle

The following is the substantive speech delivered by Babu Narendra Nath Sen (1897 – xx), a veteran patriot and editor of the famous The Indian Mirror.

Gentlemen,—We have met here this evening to honour those gentlemen who have suffered for the Swadeshi cause, and it is superfluous for me to say that in honouring them, we are honour- ing ourselves as a nation. The occasion is a unique one, for this is the first time in the history of modern India that the nation has been called upon to honour people who have suffered for the country’s cause The event marks a new era in the history of our country, and heralds a new destiny for our countrymen. No nation need despair of its future that counts in its ranks men who are ready to suffer for their Motherland.

These gentlemen, whom we see before us, are the sufferers for the Swadeshi cause. They have suffered first for a just and righteous cause, and our sympathy naturally goes out to them. But I may be permitted to say, that their sufferings, however great, are nothing compared with what the people of Ireland, Russia and China have suffered, and are suffering still. Through her patient suffering, Ireland is about to realise her long-cherished aspiration for Home Rule. Through her suffering, Russia has wrung not a few concessions from the Autocratic Czar. Through her suffering China too, with the aid of the Reform Party, has emerged from her stagnant national life. Suffering constitutes the best and greatest sacrifice and no cause has ever been won without it. Our people are yet at the beginning of the struggle and they must be prepared for greater sacrifices than they have yet undergone. Let them fight the battle manfully, undeterred by any difficulties which they may find in their way.

Gentlemen, what strikes me as peculiar is that in such a cause as Swadeshi anybody should have to suffer persecution from a progressive and enlightened Government like the British Government. We know that Lord Curzon when in India posed himself as an apostle of Swadeshi. The Swadeshi Gospel is preached by all the advanced nations of the West, and by none so eloquently as the school of politicians in England who follow the Chamberlain flag. But the dullest amongst us can see that Government is bitterly opposed to that Swadeshi movement, and is determined to put it down by force. At the beginning, the attempt to suppress the movement was a veiled one. The veil has since been thrown aside, and an open crusade is now being waged against the movement all over the country. Why so, we cannot understand. Is not the Swadeshi movement beneficial both to Indians and Anglo-Indians? We do not refuse to use articles of English manufacture. All we want is that the articles of our use may be produced in the country by whom it does not matter. The term “Swadeshi’’ is sufficiently elastic to include products of Indian as well as Anglo-Indian enterprise provided only that in the latter case as in the former the capital and labour are employed in India. In this view, the Anglo-Indian planter and miner are as much Swadeshists as the Indian tiller of the soil. It is reported that the Government of India have in contemplation the issue of orders for the extended purchase of articles manufactured in this country for Government stores. It not this an encouragement of the Swadeshi moveinent? If our rulers had acted in conformity with their declarations, our people would not have been victims of unmerited persecution in connection with the Swadeshi movement. In the new Province, I regret to Say, the policy of our rulers has been one of stern repression. But gentlemen, history teaches the great lesson that repression is never successful in checking the tide of national progress, nor marring any good and righteous work which a nation takes upon itself to accomplish. For every act of repression, there is a martyr and it is martyrdom that strengthens the foundation of a national movement. In spite of repression and persecution we see to day the watch-fires of Swadeshi burning in every city, every town and every village in the country,—we see not one or two here and there, but hundreds patiently suffering for the national cause, Martyrdom has sanctified Swadeshi,—it has stamped the movement with a glorified halo. And I make bold to say that so long as this policy of repression lasts, the Swadeshi cause will spread and prosper with increasing vigour.

Gentlemen, I must not be understood, in all that I have said, to mean that the methods, employed in advancing the Swadeshi cause have been invariably right. My point is that the Government has mistaken the true end and scope of the movement. The stand taken by Swadeshi is one of defence not defiance. All the more we regret the attitude of the Government in view of the fact that it is now generally acknowledged in Anglo-Indian circles, that a new national sentiment as the product of English education has sprung up among the people of this country. Swadeshi is the result of that Sentiment. Why then should the ruling race keep away from the movement, as if it were designed for unlawful and sinister purposes? I ventur to think that Swadeshi furnishes the exact basis on which an entente cordiale may be established between Indians and Anglo-Indians. May we  hope that our non-official Anglo-Indian brethren will approach the subject in a rational spirit, and make common cause with the childred of the soil in furthering a movement which is calculated to promote the material interests of both alike? As regards Government, I can only say that it is pursuing and altogether mistaken policy in regard to the movement.

Among the gentlement whom we see before us today I may mention in particular, without meaning to make my invidious distinction, the name of Babu Aswini Kumar Dutt of Barisal than whom there are few sincere, self-sacrificing patriots known in all Bengal both old and new. I am told Babu Aswini Kumar has left Calcutta and is not with us this evening. However, I say again that in honouring all these gentlemen who have suffered for the Swadeshi cause, we are honouring ourselves as a nation. To all workers for our dear Motherland. I would say: Have patience. India’s struggles, however great are not greater than those of Ireland and Russia. Sacrifice is the true test of of patriotism. There con be no progress without struggle and suffering. Go on working with trust in Providence, and you will soon reach the goal which you seek, I need only remind you of what the poet says:—

Courage yet, my brother or my sister.
Keep on—Liberty is to be subserved whatever occurs;
That is nothing that is quell’d by one or two failures, or any number of failures.
Or by the indifference or ingratitude of the people, or by any unfaithfulness.
Or the show of the tushes of powers, soldiers, cannon, penal statutes.
What we believe in waits latent for ever through all the continents.
Invites no one, promises nothing, sits in calmness and light, is positive and composed, knows no discouragement.
Waiting patiently, waiting its time.

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Surendranath Banerjee’s 1905 Speech: A Call to Swadeshi