Sri Aurobindo

Bande Mataram

Political Writings and Speeches. 1890–1908

Part One. Writings and a Resolution 1890 – 1906

A Sample-Room for Swadeshi Articles¹

Objects

1. I propose that a permanent sample-room should be maintained by the Baroda Industrial Association in its own offices, fulfilling the following purposes

(1) an ocular demonstration to the public and the merchants of the number and kind of goods they can have from their own country;

(2) a standing advertisement of Swadeshi articles procurable in the local market;

(3) a register of information available to all interested in the industrial development of the country.

Means of providing the Sample-room at a minimum expense

2. The sample-room should be begun on a modest scale and gradually enlarged in its scope. The Sub-Committee should see that no means of saving expense should be spared consistently with the usefulness of the institution.

3. The saving of expense may be effected in various ways.

In the first place the Committee should at first confine itself only to those articles which are in daily or common use and therefore essential to the needs or comfort of the general population.

4. Having fixed on the kind of articles to which it will limit itself, the Committee will first inquire what goods, e.g. clothes etc. can be had through the local merchants and obtain samples from them gratis. As the sample-room will be in its secondary character a free advertisement for the merchants, they will probably be glad enough to seize the opportunity.

5. Again the Committee should draw up a circular (typewritten) stating the objects of the sample-room, pointing out that it will be a free advertisement introducing all goods sent there to the local market, and inviting manufacturers to send samples. This announcement may also be made in the local papers as well as one or two widely circulated journals outside. The circular may, if necessary, be franked by responsible persons holding good positions in order to assure the manufacturers etc. of the bona-fides of the institution. If so assured, they will probably be quite willing to secure an advertisement by sending their samples gratis; for it must be remembered that the goods will be mostly of a common order and therefore cheap.

6. Still farther to lighten the burden, the Association may approach the authorities to make an exception as to Jakat in the case of articles sent for the sample-room and certified by responsible officers of the Association.

7. In the case of samples required which are not sent by the manufacturer on the general invitation, a special request may be made to him to afford this facility to the Association.

8. Only in case these methods fail, the Committee will be entitled in case of necessity to purchase samples. In this way the cost of providing the sample-room will be kept at a minimum.

9. It will be the business of the Information Committee to see that the sample-room is kept up to date.

10. Outside the limits laid down in Para 3, the Committee will gladly accept samples but will not buy them.

11. This rule however should not prevent the extension of the scope of the sample-room when funds and opportunity permit.

Establishment

12. The establishment of the sample-room should consist of at least one clerk and one servant.

N.B. The undersigned hopes after some time (if the scheme be adopted) to provide a clerk either gratis or for a minimum pay covering only his food and lodging, but until then or failing this, he is ready to pay at least Rs 12 monthly for the purpose.

13. The sample-room will remain constantly under the inspection of the General Secretaries and especially of the Secretary for the Information Committee.

Means for the Better Fulfilment of the First Object

14. For the better fulfilment of object

(1) in Para 1, the samples should be carefully classified by the Committee and arranged on a clear system, labels and numbers with the descriptive name of the article, its ordinary price and place of production affixed.

(2) Any considerable changes in price may occasionally be entered, but the Committee will not hold itself responsible for accuracy in this respect.

Means for the ditto of the Second Object

15. For the better fulfilment of object (2) the following arrangement may be made

A small placard may be affixed to goods procurable [incomplete]

This work was not included in SABCL, vol.1 and it was not compared with other editions.

¹ An incomplete proposal to establish a place in Baroda where Swadeshi products could be exhibited; undated but certainly 1905 or 1906.

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