IMPORTANCE OF KHADI IN

THE LIFE OF A BANASTHALITE

BY – CADET KRITIKA SINGH

RJ/SWA/19/255485

NCC BANASTHALI VIDYAPEETH

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INTRODUCTION

Khadi , also known as khaddar , is a hand-woven natural fiber cloth originating from eastern regions of the Indian subcontinent .This fabric is made mainly of cotton .

The cloth is usually woven from cotton and may also include silk or wool which are all spun into yarn on a spinning wheel called a charkha.

Before Independence , khadi manufacturing gained momentum under Mahatma

Gandhi’s leadership as a movement to boycott British clothes . It was then the fabric of

freedom fighters and the rural folk . Gandhi developed the concept of khadi as a means to

provide employment to the unemployed rural population . The Indian flag is also made from

khadi , and therefore , it holds national importance.

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Gandhiji on khadi -

“ Like swaraj , khadi our birth right and it is our life long duty to use that only.

Anyone who does not fulfill that duty is totally ignorant of what swaraj is.”

“We cannot claim to have understood the meaning of swaraj till khadi becomes

as universal as currency.”

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Gandhiji started his movement for khadi in 1918. His emphasis at first was on khadi as providing relief to our poverty-stricken masses. But one finds a change in his emphasis from 1934, more especially from 1935, when he began on insisting on khadi for the villagers own use.

Gandhi saw khadi as a source to help the poor living in villages to earn a living. He saw khadi as a self-sufficient material. This became a movement that aimed at boycotting foreign goods and promoting the Indian goods which would intern boost the Indian economy.

This movement gave birth to swaraj. Khadi also became a symbol for political agendas during India’s independence struggle. Hence khadi became the weapon of non-violence and played a major role in India’s independence. The spinning wheel came to be considered as sedative and which brought peace of mind and also became the emblem of human dignity and equality.

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The Economics of Khadi -

❑ Historically the khadi movement was ideologically woven around the need to provide supplementary work to idle or underemployed rural hands.

❑ As it was designed to cater primarily to a rural workforce, khadi required simple, comprehensible technology and a local resource base for both its production and consumption.

❑ It was round this constructive ideology that a political movement was built. It had a practical dimension of being a subsidiary occupation for India's famished rural masses and a symbolic value of being a mascot of mobilization for India's freedom struggle. The khadi movement was a campaign to establish a non - violent economic order.

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❑ Khadi was a passion for Gandhi and it remained so till his very end. It played a significant role in the struggle for freedom. Khadi was a cloth against colonialism and an idea against imperialism - freedom's fabric. Gradually it became a commodity that denoted what the entire Gandhi led freedom struggle stood for.

❑ It came to symbolize liberation, not just from the exploitative colonialism, but also from the market driven techno capitalism. It came to be identified with principles of social responsibility and neighbour compassion. It stood for forging living bonds between the rich and the poor.

❑ It brought issues of social segregation, economic inequality and political isolation into the agenda of the national struggle. It aspired to shape the content of freedom and determine the values at stake in post - independence rivalries over resource - use. It invested moral responsibility in the representative character of democracy. It gave character to politics as well as to protest. It was a road map to swaraj.

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Banasthali and Khadi - 7

❖ Khadi is not only a fabric, it is a lifestyle. Khadi wearing is an integral part of life at Banasthali. Khadi is a symbol of self-reliance and empowerment of women.

❖ Prominently focused on Indian tradition and Indianphilosophies Banasthali remarkably has been able to produceconfident and unique women leaders. Khadi wearing bystudents with simple living and self sufficiency are among thecore ideologies and philosophies Vidyapith entitles.

❖ Great emphasis is placed on the integrated development ofthe various facets of personality of the students, and equallyon creating consciousness in their minds about their socialresponsibility. The persuit of these mutually related goalsreflects the strength of an individual.

❖ Khadi availability of opportunities to the students to developtheir personalities, and Vidyapith’s initiative to inculcatespiritual and moral values in the students through variousactivities, emphasizing character-building and simplicity.

8❖ Economic empowerment is to make women take economic decisions and act on them. Women are

the nucleus of the family and responsible for the change , transformation and mobilization.

Acknowledging this fact and also women’s individuality , BANASTHALI VIDYAPITH make interventions

for their economic empowerment.

❖ Manufacturing and dying of khadi are encouraging women empowerment and making them financially stronger. As a result, it contributes to the improvement of the nation. Khadi has proven that it has

covered the journey from "Khadi as a fabric of freedom" to "Khadi as a fabric of fashion”

embarking on a new journey. Considering the vast ecosphere of artisans that work in the

Khadi sector, with this initiative our endeavor is to establish it as a “fabric of empowerment" too.

Unique features of Khadi in the life of

Banasthalite -

It creates the uniformity among the students.

Wearing khadi brings tranquillity.

The idea of wearing khadi is mainly to bring the focus on shaping one’s mind and career.

Khadi is self reliance.

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Khadi dyes and weaves are done by hand. Each khadi product is different and has a very peculiar style and finish. Wearing khadi products makes one’s to stand out in the crowd and give a unique appeal.

Khadi is viable for the students.

The making of khadi is eco-friendly , as it does not rely on any electric unit and manufacturing processes.

Khadi products are natural and is known for its herbal benefits

Khadi is one type of fabric that can be worn in any weather. It's warm in the winters and cool in the summers. All you have to do is find out comfortable designs that suit you.

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11 Banasthali is enshrined in my heart"- Mahatma Gandhi (1946)

If I had been a girl I would have come to Banasthali for my education"-Pandit Nehru (1945)

THANK YOU

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