IMPACT OF THE SWADESHI MOVEMENT ON BRITISH MARITIME TRADE IN TAMIL NADU: ECONOMIC NATIONALISM AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF COLONIAL COMMERCE (1905-1911)

Abstract

The Swadeshi Movement (1905–1911) transformed the Indian struggle for autonomy and simultaneously caused radical shifts in the British maritime economy in Tamil Nadu. This research examines the scope of British shipping influence over critical ports in Tamil Nadu, such as Madras (now Chennai), Tuticorin, and Nagapattinam, through an interdisciplinary approach that combines quantitative trade statistics with qualitative archival research. A striking 7 per cent loss in British shipping revenue, coupled with the growth of Indian shipping companies, was noted. One of the boldest was V.O. Chidambaram Pillai's Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company (SSNC), which not only symbolized defiance but also economically contested the colonial shipping monopoly. This research contributes to the historiography of economic nationalism by illustrating the impact of regional resistance on imperialist trade systems. The study argues that the Movement impacts were felt long after the colonial period, influencing the objectives of an economic policy and a self-sufficient maritime strategy for the country.