Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reawakened the spirit of the Swadeshi movement—originally launched between 1905 and 1911—as India confronts a 25% US tariff and geopolitical uncertainty. Modi called on citizens, traders, and political leaders to unite behind the “Vocal for Local” pledge, promoting indigenous products and fortifying India’s path to becoming the world’s third-largest economy.

Swadeshi, born in anti‑partition Bengal, originally advocated boycotting British goods and supporting local industries. It evolved from constructive grassroots activism into a powerful demand for self-rule (Swaraj), mobilizing diverse social groups across regions. Modi’s renewed appeal isn’t a retreat into protectionism, but a strategically calibrated push for economic resilience that draws on India’s legacy of self-reliance while operating in a globalized context.

He urged shopkeepers to stock only Swadeshi products and consumers to consciously choose goods made by Indian hands turning everyday purchases into national service. By invoking the legacy of Gandhi and the early Swadeshi movement, Modi framed economic nationalism as both a tribute to history and a necessity for modern India’s growth. The call merges cultural pride with economic policy positioning constructive self-reliance as vital to weathering the current trade headwinds and advancing India’s development agenda.