Ideology and Action Programme of the Swadeshi Movement in Tamil Nadu

Abstract

Nationalism in India, though universally affecting the whole of the subcontinent, was an uneven development, originating indifferent parts of India at different points of time. The uniqueness of the Nationalist Movement in Tamil Nadu was due to the Swadeshi and boycott ideology and political activities of V.O. Chidambaram pillai and accompanied with other nationalist. Swadeshi meant not only use of one’s own goods but also more significantly the revival of the glorious Seafaring tradition of the Thenpandi of Tirunelvelly district and boycott was both an economic and emotional weapon to free India of the unwanted presence of the foreigner. VOC’s ideology ofSwadeshi and boycott led to the birth of the Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company against the British Indian Steam Navigation Company and mobilising the workers of Coral Mills in Tirunelvelly. This brought him in to increasing conflict with the British Raj and proves that the British were not needed in India. In addition this paper express briefly about SubramaniaBharathi and Subramania Siva a wellknownSwadeshi activists and supporter of VOC. Key words, Swadeshi and boycott ideology of VOCRevivalist and Nativist sentiments of VOCBirth of Swadeshi Steam Navigation CompanyLabour unrest and SwadeshiVOC with SubramaniyaBharathi and Subramaniya Siva