A Journal of Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya

1. History of India, and other countries.
2. Biographies of great and eminent
personages all over the world.
3. Historical plays.
4. Novels.
5. Contemporary/Current Indian
Politics.
6. Science.
7. Critical Reviews.
Within its ambit was published Sapreji’s
‘Swadeshi Movement and Boycott’ in
August, 1906, where the significance of
the Swadeshi Movement and the meaning
of boycott was clearly explained. The book
documents in detail the imperialist
exploitation and plunder of India by the
British regime resulting in India’s
impoverishment. Driving home his point
forcefully he says, “So long as India doesn’t
attain Swaraj, efforts in other directions
will fail.” He was confident that India would
definitely attain Swaraj, because, in the
History of the world, there is not a single
example of a powerful country holding
the weaker one in an endless bondage
of unremitting slavery.” How could the
government allow the publication of such
a book? Hence, it was possibly banned
in 1909. A study of “Swadeshi Movement
and Boycott” makes it evident that Madhav
Rao Sapre was greatly influenced by Tilak.
In order to propagate Tilak’s views on
colonial rule and Nationalism, he launched
“Hindi Kesari”. The motive behind it was
to establish a parallel to the “Marathi
‘Kesari’ started by Tilak, so that the former
would create some impact in the Hindi
speaking belt, that the latter had done
in Maharashtra.
It advocated the use of Swadeshi goods
and the boycott of foreign ones, it brought
out the significance of Swaraj and
emphasized upon national pride and selfesteem.
It boldly supported various
movements and spoke in favour of
revolutionaries. Besides dealing with the
basic values it also contained translated
essays taken from ‘Kesari’. It fanned the
government’s ire, which increased in direct
proportion to its increasing popularity.
As a consequence Deshraj Press, and houses
of Hindi Kesri’s editors were raided on
August, 22, 1908, and both editors—
Kholhatkar and Sapreji were arrested. In
the eyes of the government , this was
the first act of treason committed in the
History of Hindi Journalism. Tracking him
down the years one discovers the poignant
moments of his life. Sapreji’s health had
already deterioriated. It worsened during
his three months’ imprisonment. His friends
advised him to seek pardon and get his
release, but he refused. Later, he was
compelled to give in when his brother,
Babu Rao threatened to commit suicide
if Sapreji did not apologise to the
Government. Being pushed into a terrible
dilemma, he had to relent, thus, he put
his signature on the letter of apology
addressed to the government. This incident
January-March 2012 :: 13