Spirit of Swadeshi

I am told that with the advent of Swadeshi Raj in the shape of Swaraj, the spirit of Swadeshi is fast disappearing from the land. The stock of Khadi is, perhaps, at its lowest. It is no unusual sight to see what are called Gandhi topis worn by men who are otherwise clad in Paradeshi. If that is true on any large scale, the dearly loved liberty, in my opinion, would be short lived. Good-bye then to the hope of India becoming the Light of Asia, as by right it should be. Paradeshi goes side by side with luxury which, a correspondent says is rampant everywhere. I fondly hope that whilst the tragic picture might be true of the cities of India, it is not so of the villages if only because they are famishing.

Immediately after my return to India in 1915, I discovered that the centre of Swadeshi lay in Khadi. If Khadi goes, I contended even then, there is no Swadeshi. I have shown that the manufactures in Indian mills do not constitute Swadeshi. To that belief I cling even today.

Old Times Recalled

Think of the bonfire of foreign cloth we had during our first national struggle. Sarojini Naidu and Pandit Motilal Nehru threw fineries in it. Pandit Motilal Nehru later wrote from jail that he had found true happiness in the simplicity and purity of Khadi. It is sad that that spirit does not exit to-day. The Charkha is the centre of our Tri-colour Flag. It is the symbol of the unity and non-violent strength of the millions. The yarn spun by the Charkha, I consider to be the cementing force which can bind those whom the three colours of the Flag represent. That is why I have said that the whole fabric of Swaraj hangs on a thread of the hand-spun yarn, and have called the Charkha our mightiest weapon. Where is that wheel to-day?

Do not Look to the West

I have already reminded you that if you have the Swadeshi spirit in you, you will refuse to look to the West or the supply of your major wants. I have no quarrel, in this time of extreme scarcity, if India imports food stuffs and cloth from outside, provided it is proved that India is wholly unable to supply the two wants from within India. This is in no way proved. I have not hesitated to say, and I would repeat, that India is fully able to manufacture her own Khadi and grow her own foodstuffs in her numerous villages. But alas, the people have become too lazy to look inward and insist on supplying these two wants from within India’s borders. I will go even so far as to say that I will face starvation and nakedness rather than look to the West to supply the two needs. Without grim determination it is not possible to do the right thing.

Harijan: June 29, 1947