The Principle of Swadeshi

Man is not omnipotent. He, therefore, serves the world best by first serving his neighbour. This is Swadeshi, a principle which is broken when one professes to serve those who are more remote in preference to those who are near. Observance of Swadeshi makes for order in the world, the breach of it leads to chaos. Following the principle, one must, as far as possible, purchase one’s requirements locally and not buy things imported from foreign lands, which can be easily manufactured in the country.¹ There is no place for self-interest in Swadeshi, which enjoins the sacrifice of oneself for the family, of the family for the village, of the village for the country and the country for humanity.

Ashram observances in Action: p. 114

1 "Just as, if we are to live, we must breathe not air imported from England nor eat food so imported, so may we not import cloth made in England. I do not hesitate to carry the doctrine to its logical limit and say that Bengal dare not import her cloth even from Bombay or Banga Lakshmi. If Bengal will live her natural and free life without exploiting the rest of India or the world outside, she must manufacture her cloth in her own villages as she grows her corn there."

Young India: Nov. 5, 1925.