A Historical Study of Economic Nationalism: Economic Nationalism and the Development of Indian Business during the Freedom Movement

Abstract

Economic nationalism played a significant role in shaping the economic dimensions of India’s freedom movement and contributed substantially to the emergence and expansion of indigenous Indian business. This study examines the historical relationship between economic nationalism and the development of Indian entrepreneurship during the colonial period, with particular emphasis on the Swadeshi Movement, indigenous enterprise, nationalist economic thought, and the creation of institutions supporting Indian commerce and industry. Colonial economic policies, including discriminatory tariffs, restrictions on indigenous industries, and the extensive export of Indian raw materials, created structural challenges for Indian entrepreneurs. In response, nationalist leaders, intellectuals, traders, industrialists, and consumers promoted economic self-reliance through the production, consumption, and
circulation of indigenous goods.