Recently Union Home Minister Amit Shah highlighted how Prime Minister Narendra led regime has revived khadi.
Shah spoke about how Mahatma Gandhi had used khadi during the country’s freedom movement to remove poverty and make the country self-reliant. However, he accused the Congress of forgetting khadi after Independence. He gave credit to PM Modi for reviving the khadi industry. The turnover of the Khadi and Village Industries Commission has increased to Rs 1.70 lakh crore now from Rs 33,000 crore in 2014-15. Many companies in the country do not have such a big turnover.
The Khadi is more than just a fabric; it is a symbol of India’s resilience, self-reliance, and cultural pride. When Mahatma Gandhi promoted khadi during the freedom struggle, he envisioned it as a powerful tool to empower the masses, eradicate poverty, and create a self-sustaining economy. For Gandhi, khadi was not merely cloth, but a movement that stitched together the ideals of simplicity, dignity of labour, and economic independence.
Prime Minister Modi’s repeated emphasis on “Khadi for Fashion” and “Khadi for Nation” has rebranded the fabric from being an item of symbolic simplicity to a stylish, eco-friendly, and sustainable choice for the new generation. Designers are increasingly incorporating khadi into their collections, and consumers are now more aware of its environmental and cultural value.
Moreover, this revival has had far-reaching socio-economic implications. Lakhs of rural artisans, particularly women, have found stable livelihoods through khadi production. By promoting village industries alongside khadi, the government has supported small-scale entrepreneurship, reduced migration pressures on cities, and created opportunities in areas that were previously marginalized. The khadi movement, thus, is not just about weaving cloth but weaving inclusive growth into the fabric of India’s development story.
Amit Shah’s remarks also highlight a larger philosophical shift. The revival of khadi is emblematic of the government’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat—a self-reliant India rooted in its heritage while embracing modernity. It reflects the belief that true economic independence cannot be built by abandoning indigenous industries, but by nurturing them and adapting them to contemporary needs.
In reviving khadi, the PM Modi led government has rekindled a movement that connects India’s freedom struggle to its future aspirations.
From Gandhi’s spinning wheel to global fashion ramps, khadi’s journey is a testament to India’s capacity to transform tradition into strength.
As the Union Home Minister rightly credited, the renewed spirit of khadi is not just about cloth—it is about confidence, self-reliance, and the enduring promise of a stronger nation. |
