Swadeshi has a new significance sure, but Gandhian Thought is eternal and immortal

 By Malini Shankar

Digital Discourse Foundation

Swadeshi is the new Mantra in India in the Second Trump Administration.  President Trump threatens the leaders of all economically leading countries with extra-ordinary tariffs to protect American economy… for American Swadeshi! 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s clarion call for Swadeshi to avoid American import duties or tariffs was almost a helpless call to countrymen to revive indigenous manufacturing to avoid gargantuan fiscal burden of tariffs. Modi’s call to Swadeshi is an opportunity to revive manufacturing in India that caters not just to nationalism as Gandhiji’s call was, but offers a fresh new opportunity where Gandhian Charaka failed.

Spinning a loin cloth was no more than an inspiration it seems, in after-thought.

Imagine if the philosophy of Swadeshi can be indigenised to augment the Human Development Index and GDP of India. Spinning a wheel to manufacture self-made cloth obviously will not contribute to horizontal and inclusive fiscal growth in today’s inter connected global economy. But it germinated the idea of horizontal and inclusive economic growth certainly. Swadeshi has the potential of practical idealism and can awaken the sleeping giant of Indian economy because the pillars of the economy including a throbbing and robust Middle Class is already there.

Swadeshi has to evolve to manufacture Fast Moving Consumer Goods or FMCG like say clay refrigerators, toiletries made of native agricultural produce, textiles, and microwave ovens; Bamboo is the new steel in construction, millet and dates cake maybe, herbal medicines to treat endocrine disorders, propagate indigenous technologies and solutions in all sectors of the economy:

1.      Advertising,

2.      Agriculture,

3.      Archaeology

4.      Architecture (indigenisation of architecture is co-synchronous to Climate Change adaptation)

5.      Artificial Intelligence,

6.      Automobiles,

7.      Aviation,

8.      Banking,

9.      #Best Practices,

10.  Construction,

11.  Cosmetics, ( a whole gamut of Intellectual Property Rights or IPR and traditional wisdom of indigenous design of craft is at stake as the Prada design of Kollapuri chappals revealed and is also necessitated by Article 8 J of the UNEP’s Convention on Biological Diversity).

12.  Defence production (although Gandhian Thought would say whom do we defend ourselves against if the entire world comprises of good people / good human beings? Point is, the world today is divided between innocents and terrorists in the post 9 – 11 era). It will however take Gandhian thought to convert the terrorists to mainstream peaceful and constructive, inclusive life. Defence production should be sublime to intelligent and Intelligence based-solutions for a peaceful world devoid of bloodshed, war and Himsa or violence.

13.  Disaster Mitigation,

14.  E-Commerce

15.  Education,

16.  Earth science applications, (Vedic Knowledge levers credibility by accurately forecasting El Nino and La Nina – the weather phenomena - based only on the lunar almanac)

17.  Healthcare,

18.  Hospitality,

19.  Handicrafts (needs legal IPR protection, calling attention to amending India’s archaic copyright laws)

20.  Heritage tourism,

21.  Information Technology and ITES,

22.  Infrastructure ( there is a firm in India which has specialised in converting plastics to Bitumen which helps laying bitumen layered tar roads. This is not just sustainable win- win solution for disposal of plastics but makes for quality, durable quality roads and highways).

23.  Insurance, (how about taking a deep dive intro traditional wisdom in insurance and social safety nets?)

24.  Jurisprudence (the BNS is already done and dusted - but bail provisions and death penalty clauses remain issues seeking reform)

25.  Livelihood security promotion

26.  Landscape conservation

27.  Mediascape (time for the Indian media to rediscover ancient tenets of Democracy in ancient Indian literature)

28.  Manufacturing,

29.  Nature and forest Conservation,

30.  Planning and design,

31.  Pharmacology,

32.  Retail

33.  Rural economy

34.  Sustainable transport, indeed Sustainable Development and the UN Charter are founded and grounded in Gandhian Thought, 

35.  Services, (epitomises Gandhian Thought)

36.  Textiles, bamboo based textiles are not just the new thing on the shelf but helps Cancer survivors)

37.  Tribal governance

And so on… all of which need to be indigenised to serve local needs. This in itself can trigger, spawn and sustain a four trillion dollar economy – sustainably and inclusively and will withstand and survive the Trump tariffs. Sarvodaya epitomises inclusivity in the parlance of current discourse.

Let’s study a couple of examples: Textiles: The land of Khadi and cotton supports infinite livelihoods in farming, transport, supply and logistics, dyeing, processing, manufacturing, sales and marketing, design, publicity, tax revenue and world trade.

Another far off example: Bamboo: India supports an amazing diversity of indigenous Bamboo varieties. Bamboo is the new steel. It can be used in biofuels, construction, furniture, textiles, health care, fashion and cosmetics, rain water harvesting, gardening and landscapes, Emissions reduction, newsprint, food processing, food and nutrition, and infinite uses which are yet to be schooled to us. At a conservative estimate - made on back of the envelope - bamboo harvesting can support livelihoods in the range of 25000 indigenous people per annum in the Northeast of India alone.

The potential to create livelihoods and market for new age avatars of Sustainable Development needs intellectual engagement to translate Gandhiji’s thoughts of practical idealism into real time fiscal realities. Livelihoods for indigenous people will boost both credentials and livelihood security as well as food security, besides exemplifying sustainable development and green economy. That India will not just set an example to the Comity of Nations but will lead the way in Sustainable Development Goals makes Gandhian Thought wholly universal in appeal.

Swadeshi has the potential to make horizontal inclusive economy a dream come true for Gandhiji. That it took President Trump to get nations to engage in Swadeshi is a political irony indeed. Its time revisit and research well the significance of Gandhian Thought. If Gandhian Thought can prevail over the complex global economy the day is not far off when political idealism will rule a whole new peaceful World Order... atleast hopefully!