Tilak made ‘Swadeshi’ a symbol of patriotism. Explaining its political importance, he says, “This alone is the most effective means which can free us from slavery.” To Tilak, the efficacy of Swadeshi was not only confined to the economic self – dependence of India. He considered, Swadeshi as the bed – rock of spiritual elevation and attainment of political freedom.
His Swadeshi movement became the movement for the renaissance and re – elevation of the entire Indian national life. Expressing the political significance of swadeshi, Tilak said, “If we do not want to live under the slavery of the British, we shall have to carry on the swadeshi movement with full force. This alone is such an effective means that can free us from slavery.”