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Henry W. Nevison, the correspondent of the Manchester Guardian toured India in
1907-8. In his writings Nevison captured the new spirit of India as seen by
him.
Following are the excerpts from his book, "The New Spirit of India".
“…In reviewing the English exports in cotton piece-goods for May, 1907, the
Times remarked: "India took less by 42, 492, 500 yards;" and sitting by her
mother, a child of Eastern Bengal was heard to ask, "Mother, is this an
English or a Swadeshi Mosquito?" "Swadeshi," the mother answered. "Then I
won't kill it," said the child.
Such was the movement which I had found speeding up the eighty or ninety
cotton mills in Mumbai, because, work as they might, they could not keep pace
with the demand from Bengal. It is true that English manufacturers were said
to be adopting the simple device of stamping their Manchester stuff with the
Swadeshi mark, but I did not discover how far their deceit was successful.
The movement was spreading to all kinds of merchandise besides cotton. In
Calcutta they had started a Swadeshi match-factory, in Dacca soap-works and
tanneries. In all Indian towns you will now find Swadeshi shops where you may
buy native biscuits, cigarettes, scents, toys, woollens, boots, and all manner
of things formerly imported. Nearly all the trade advertisements in Indian
papers are now Swadeshi. The officials whom I consulted, from the Governor of
Bombay and the Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal downwards, professed sympathy and
admiration for the Swadeshi movement. It would be almost impossible for them
to do anything else, considering the economic salvation it may bring to India
if it is maintained. Their interest in this economic development is quite
genuine, and I am told that, though under official management, the Swadeshi
stalls from Eastern Bengal during the Calcutta Congress of 1906 were the
success of the exhibition. But the officials are in a very difficult position.
With all their love for India, they do not like to stand by and see British
trade ruined neither does the word "boycott" delight the official mind…”
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