Yanthungo Patton urges citizens to adopt Swadeshi as a collective responsibility

KOHIMA — Nagaland Deputy Chief Minister and BJP Legislature Party leader Yanthungo Patton on Monday called upon the people of the state to make Swadeshi a collective responsibility to achieve the goal of a truly self-reliant India.

Addressing a press conference at the BJP head office in Kohima, in the presence of Advisor for Prisons, Printing and Stationery Kropol Vitsu and other party leaders, Patton said Swadeshi is not merely a slogan but the foundation of Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India).

“Har Ghar Swadeshi, Ghar-Ghar Swadeshi — this is our mantra, our mission, and our strength. When we choose Swadeshi, we connect with the soil of our land, honour the hard work of our people, and take a decisive step towards building a truly self-reliant India,” he said.

He underlined that Swadeshi has been an integral part of India’s cultural ethos for over a century and recalled the contributions of leaders like Lokmanya Tilak, Sri Aurobindo and Mahatma Gandhi in promoting the movement during the country’s freedom struggle.

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Patton said that while nationalist organisations continued to promote Swadeshi after independence, the adoption of a Western development model and an import-dependent economy weakened local industries. The revival of the Swadeshi movement in 1964 by Dattopant Thengadi, he added, became the inspiration for the present-day Atmanirbhar Bharat campaign, which has been accelerated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Highlighting the progress India has made under the initiative, he pointed out achievements in defence indigenisation, One District One Product (ODOP), renewable energy, digital transformation, and the rise of local industries — from khadi and traditional crafts to advanced manufacturing of fighter aircraft, drones, and semiconductors.

Patton cited India’s response during the COVID-19 pandemic as a prime example of Swadeshi spirit, noting that the country ramped up production of PPE kits, ventilators and vaccines at a time when global supply chains were faltering.

He stressed that the concept of Swadeshi now goes beyond khadi and handicrafts and added that Swadeshi spans from the BrahMos missile to semiconductors, from Indian languages and knowledge traditions to world-class goods and crafts.

As part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan, Patton informed that various programmes will be organised nationwide to promote Swadeshi, including online quizzes, essay competitions, seminars, conferences for traders and small industrialists, and Swadeshi fairs calling for greater participation.

Reiterating Prime Minister Modi’s appeal to buy Made-in-India products, Patton urged citizens to make Swadeshi a daily practice. Which should go beyond the campaign but with an expression of love and devotion towards the motherland.

Furthermore, Patton appealed to every citizen to carry the message of Har Ghar Swadeshi, Ghar-Ghar Swadeshi to every household across the state.