Page 65 - Swatantrata to Atmanirbharta : Lokmanya Tilak’s legacy

the readers though his articles, editorials, and speeches.

2. Economic Nationalism of Tilak
2.1 ‘Chatu-Sutri’
Self-Government, Self-Reliance, National Education and
Boycott were the four components of the ‘Mantra’ sponsored
by Tilak. He supported, spread, and gave wide publicity
to this Chatu-Sutri through press and created the waves of
nationalism among the countrymen. He used to criticize the
British Government fearlessly against their injustice and wrong
policies. He discussed from time to time the important issues of
economic nationalism in his newspapers.

2.2 Public Unrest
Tilak strongly supported the concept and practice of Swadeshi
in his articles and editorials. Swadeshi means to use and consume
only those products which are manufactured in our own country.
He showed people how the colonial government was exploiting
us through the drain of resources in the country. He discussed,
in detail, how the rulers were implementing the policies which
were against the economic interests of the common people. He
created unrest amongst the educated Indians against the British
Government using press.

The economic publications, lectures by the experts as well
as the announcements by the Government officials were all
reviewed in Kesari and Maratha. He stated the fact that foreign
rule was solely responsible for the suffering and pitiful condition
of the countrymen.

2.3 Editorial ‘Industry and Trade’ (28th March 1902)
In this article written in Kesari dated 28th March,1902, Tilak
discussed the policies of the British government and stated
that though some marginal increase is seen in the agricultural
productivity, the increase in population had nullified the
production growth. Similarly, the destruction of the arts and
craftsmanship had also increased the additional burden on the
agricultural sector.

63 Swatantrata to Atmanirbharata