The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has rolled out two special classroom modules on ‘Swadeshi’, aimed at linking India’s historic struggle for economic independence with present-day efforts toward self-reliance.
The modules ‘Swadeshi: Vocal for Local’ for middle-stage students and ‘Swadeshi: For a Self-Reliant India’ for secondary-level learners explore how the movement’s principles continue to shape India’s modern industrial and innovation landscape.
The publications revisit the 1905 anti-partition agitation in Bengal, a defining moment in India’s freedom struggle that called for the boycott of British goods and the promotion of indigenous industries.
They highlight pioneering Indian ventures born from the Swadeshi movement, including Bengal Chemical and Pharmaceutical Works, founded by Prafulla Chandra Ray in 1901 and the Tata Iron and Steel Company, established by Jamsetji Tata in 1907.
Quoting directly from the texts, one module explains, “The ‘Swadeshi’ movement began during India’s freedom struggle when the British divided Bengal in 1905… ‘Swadeshi’ was not just about boycott but also about creating Indian alternatives.”
The modules draw a compelling parallel between the spirit of Swadeshi in 1905 and the ethos of Atmanirbharta in 2025, noting, “In 1905, it gave strength to fight colonial exploitation. In 2025, it guides us towards self-reliance in a globalised, technology-driven world.”
PM Modi’s Vision for a Self-Reliant India
The modules prominently feature Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day address this year, where he underscored ‘self-reliant Bharat’ as the cornerstone of a developed India.
They also reference his interaction with national award-winning teachers, where he playfully reversed classroom roles by assigning them ‘homework’, to inspire students to champion Swadeshi and Vocal for Local campaigns in schools and communities.
Through this initiative, NCERT seeks to merge historical learning with practical civic engagement, aligning classroom education with national missions such as Make in India, Startup India, Digital India, and Atmanirbhar Bharat.
In a strikingly contemporary interpretation, the modules place artificial intelligence (AI) at the centre of modern Swadeshi.
They call for research-driven innovation and the growth of domestic industries in areas such as semiconductors, renewable energy, agriculture, and AI-based technologies.
NCERT emphasises that Swadeshi today extends beyond history; it is a strategic framework for navigating global uncertainties and positioning India as a leading economic power.
By reimagining Swadeshi for the 21st century, these modules aim to inspire a generation that values local ingenuity, sustainability, and technological advancement.
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