Question

Role of industrialists in the civil disobedience movement

Answer 1

During the First World War, Indianmerchants and industrialists had made huge profits and becomepowerful (see Chapter 5). Keen on expanding their business, theynow reacted against colonial policies that restricted business activities.They wanted protection against imports of foreign goods, and arupee-sterling foreign exchange ratio that would discourage imports.To organise business interests, they formed the Indian Industrialand Commercial Congress in 1920 and the Federation of the IndianChamber of Commerce and Industries (FICCI) in 1927. Led byprominent industrialists like Purshottamdas Thakurdas andG. D. Birla, the industrialists attacked colonial control over the Indianeconomy, and supported the Civil Disobedience Movement whenit was first launched. They gave financial assistance and refused tobuy or sell imported goods. Most businessmen came to see swarajas a time when colonial restrictions on business would no longerexist and trade and industry would flourish without constraints. Butafter the failure of the Round Table Conference, business groupswere no longer uniformly enthusiastic. They were apprehensive ofthe spread of militant activities, and worried about prolongeddisruption of business, as well as of the growing influence ofsocialism amongst the younger members of the Congress.
☺️hope it helps☺️