Heritage Charkha Museum spin tales of Indian legacy

In what comes as the first initiative to link charkha with tourism, BJP president Amit Shah unveiled the Large Steel Charkha and Heritage Charkha Museum – consisting 14 vintage charkhas – at Palika Bazar Park in Delhi's Connaught Place, amid much fervour and gaiety recently.

Hailing this initiative, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his special message to Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) Chairman, said: "As Mahatma Gandhi himself believed, the Charkha is a symbol of our Swaraj and self-reliance. The museum and the monument for the Charkha in the Capital will be a proud tribute to the Charkha's historic importance in our nation. This will economically empower the lives of several weavers associated with the Khadi industry."

KVIC chairman Vinai Kumar Saxena, in his welcome speech, said that Charkha, like the memorial to unknown soldiers, is memorial to the unknown rural masses, who took to the demonstrated ways of self-reliance and dignity of labour following the call of the father of the nation.

"The KVIC, in association with New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC), has set up this Heritage Charkha Museum, showcasing 50 to 100 year old charkhas, gifted to KVIC by the owners of these charkhas. The charkha, run by the PM on Oct 18, 2016 at Ludhiana, has also been kept permanently in the museum for display for general public," he said, adding, "Located in the heart of the Capital, it will certainly catch the eyes of foreign tourists coming here. The sparkling white marble statue of Mahatma Gandhi and the Large Steel Charkha will be visible from all four sides of Baba Kharak Singh Marg."

BJP President Amit Shah said that from time immemorial Charkha had been the symbol of economic empowerment of our nation. "It is really a commendable job from the part of KVIC and NDMC that both the organisations have come up with a novel mission with economic model to promote tourism. I hope that the spinning wheel would symbolise the mission of our Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Make in India'."

Corroborating similar views, Kalraj Mishra, Union Minister MSME, said that Charkha would script the story of economic Independence of India in coming days. In his thanksgiving note, New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) Chairperson Naresh Kumar said that it would not only give a direct exposure to the vision to the New Delhi area about 'Charkha'– a symbol of nation's prosperity – but also to values and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture.

"Charkha is not only a symbol of simplicity and economic freedom by Swadeshi but also a symbol of peace and harmony, hence it will promote Prime Minister's vision for 'Make In India'," he said, adding, "The NDMC will deliver its best to up-keep and maintain the Charkha and Heritage Museum spin tail of Indian legacy. The Council is striving hard for transforming the efficient, effective and livable New Delhi area through the intervention of modern digital technology."

The 2.5 tonne large steel charkha is made of high-quality chromium nickel stainless steel and is corrosion resistant, non-magnetic and not hardenable by heat. The order to make this 12 feet tall and 25 feet long spinning wheel was given to Prayog Samiti, KVIC unit, near Sabarmati Ashram in Gujarat. The high quality stainless steel for the charkha was donated by Steel Authority of India (SAIL).

On this occasion, besides gifting 500 new model eight-spindle charkhas – with a cost of approximately Rs 70 lakh – to the women spinners of nine states, a live charkha demonstration was also held by 10 women inmates of Tihar Jail. A film on Mahatma Gandhi was also screened, after a philatelic exhibition on 'Father of the Nation'.