Re: Indian Economy News & Discussion - Nov 27 2017
Posted: 23 Nov 2025 20:24
When you are changing the meaning of a historical term, you have to explain, and keep explaining.
Let me give an example of the shifting meaning:
1. 1905 Swadeshi - throw your iPhone into the bonfire of foreign goods on your street, and don't buy any more.
2. 1947 Swadeshi - iPhone is banned, use instead the product of the Electronics Corporation of India Limited.
3. 2025 Swadeshi - build the iPhone in India for domestic use and for export.
Note that under meanings (1.) and (2.), the foreign investment which results in (3.) won't happen, if the foreign investor looks at the historical meaning.
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Further, the iPhone in India itself is made of many imported parts. The 2025 Swadeshi is - start making those parts domestically as well.
Let me give an example of the shifting meaning:
1. 1905 Swadeshi - throw your iPhone into the bonfire of foreign goods on your street, and don't buy any more.
2. 1947 Swadeshi - iPhone is banned, use instead the product of the Electronics Corporation of India Limited.
3. 2025 Swadeshi - build the iPhone in India for domestic use and for export.
Note that under meanings (1.) and (2.), the foreign investment which results in (3.) won't happen, if the foreign investor looks at the historical meaning.
---
Further, the iPhone in India itself is made of many imported parts. The 2025 Swadeshi is - start making those parts domestically as well.