My formula¹, as stated clearly, is for the guidance of the Swadeshi League. It does not purport to cover the whole field of Swadeshi. It is only by way of suggestion to the League to restrict the scope of its work to the encouragement and propagation of minor, particularly home, industries to the exclusion of major, organized ones. The object of making this suggestion is not to decry major industries or to ignore the benefit those industries have bestowed, and in future may bestow, on the country. But a body like the Swadeshi League need not become the self-appointed advertising agent of those industries as it has hitherto been. They have ample resources at their command, and they are well able to take care of themselves. The spirit of Swadeshi has been sufficiently generated, and it helps them without any effort of Swadeshi organizations.

A Cheap Self-Satisfaction

We may not delude ourselves with the belief that our efforts have helped the growth and advancement of those industries. It will be a cheap self-satisfaction not substantiated by facts. I recall a conversation I had with Fazalbhai in 1920 when I was on the eve of launching the movement of Swadeshi. He characteristically said to me: ‘If you, Congressmen, become advertising agents of ours, you will do no good to the country except to put a premium on our wares and to raise the prices of our manufactures’. His argument was sound. But he was nonplussed when I informed him that I was to encourage hand-spun and hand-woven Khadi, which had been woefully neglected and which needed to be revived if the starving and unemployed millions were to be served.

Small-Scale Industries

But Khadi is not the only such struggling industry.I, therefore, suggest to you to direct your attention and effort to all the small-scale, minor, unorganized industries that are today in need of public support.They may be wiped out if no effort is made in their behalf.Some of these are being pushed back by large-scale industries which flood the markets with their manufactures.It is these that cry for help.

Sugar Industry

Take the sugar industry.The largest major industry next to the textile is that of the manufacture of sugar. It stands in no need of our assistance. Sugar factories are fast multiplying. Popular agencies have done little to help the growth of this industry. It is indebted for its growth to favourable legislation. And today the industry is so prosperous and expanding that the production of jaggery is becoming a thing of the past. It is admittedly superior to refined sugar in nutritive value. It is this very valuable cottage industry that cries out for your help. This by itself furnishes large scope for research and substantial help. We have to investigate the ways and means of keeping it alive. This is but an illustration of what I mean.

True Swadeshi

I have no doubt in my mind that we add to the national wealth if we help the small-scale industries. I have no doubt also that true Swadeshi consists in encouraging and reviving these home industries. That alone can help the dumb millions. It also provides an outlet for the creative faculties and resourcefulness of the people. It can also usefully employ hundreds of youths in the country who are in need of employment. It may harness all the energy that at present runs to waste. I do not want any one of those who are engaged in more remunerative occupations to leave them and to take to the minor industries. Just as I did with regard to the spinning wheel, I would ask only those who suffer from unemployment and penury to take to some of these industries and add a little to their slender resources.

It will thus be seen that the change in activity that I have suggested does in no way conflict with the interests of the major industries. I want to say only this much that you, national servants, will restrict your activities to the minor industries and let the major ones help themselves as they are doing today. The minor industries I conceive will not replace the major ones, but will supplement them. I aspire even to induce the owners of large industries to take interest in their work which is purely humanitarian. I am a well-wisher of the mill-owners too, and they will bear me out when I say that I have not failed to help them when I could.

- Press Report: July, 1934

1. Gandhiji suggested the following workable formula for the guidance of the All-India Swadeshi League and kindred organizations:

“For the purpose of the All-India Swadeshi League, Swadeshi covers useful articles manufactured in India through small industries, which are in need of popular education for their support and which will accept the guidance of the All-India Swadeshi League in regulating prices and in the matter of the wages and welfare of labour under their control. Swadeshi will, therefore, exclude articles manufactured through large and organized industries, which are in no need of the services of the All-India Swadeshi League and which can or do command State aid.”