How did economic nationalism mirror the work of the early nationalist leadership in India?
The most important part of the political works by early nationalists was their economic critique of imperialism. The early nationalists vehemently opposed the British attempt to develop India a supplier of the raw materials, a market for the British goods and a field for the investment of foreign capitals.
They opposed all forms of economic exploitations in trade, industry and finance. They constantly wrote and highlighted the role of British in perpetuating poverty in India.
Naoroji's Drain of Wealth theory exposed British economic exploitation of India. He pointed out the degradation of India's resources, destabilization of productivity, unemployment, poverty and famines as the result of British economic policies.
The early nationalists, in every economic sphere, advocated the lessening and even severance of India's economic dependence on Britain. This played a huge role in India venturing out to establish a "socialistic pattern of society" with self reliance as the goal. India came to view all trade as evil and with suspicion.
Nationalists opposed large-scale import of the foreign capital and the suppression of the Indian capital in the railways and plantations.
The most important part of the political works by early nationalists was their economic critique of imperialism. The early nationalists vehemently opposed the British attempt to develop India a supplier of the raw materials, a market for the British goods and a field for the investment of foreign capitals.
They opposed all forms of economic exploitations in trade, industry and finance. They constantly wrote and highlighted the role of British in perpetuating poverty in India.
Naoroji's Drain of Wealth theory exposed British economic exploitation of India. He pointed out the degradation of India's resources, destabilization of productivity, unemployment, poverty and famines as the result of British economic policies.
The early nationalists, in every economic sphere, advocated the lessening and even severance of India's economic dependence on Britain. This played a huge role in India venturing out to establish a "socialistic pattern of society" with self reliance as the goal. India came to view all trade as evil and with suspicion.
Nationalists opposed large-scale import of the foreign capital and the suppression of the Indian capital in the railways and plantations.
- They sought to popularise Swadeshi to promote Indian industries.
- They organised all India agitation against the abandonment of tariff duties on imports and Imposition of cotton excise duties. This agitation played a major role in arousing a country-wide national feeling and educating people against British rule in India.
- Swadeshi and Boycott propagated by early nationalists became effective weapons of political struggle in the later part of mass movements.
Thus, economic criticism of British policies mirrored the early nationalism in India.