The Story of the Charkha: More Than Just a Spinning Wheel

Class: VIII                                                                The Nationalist Movement                                  Chapter:14

What is a Charkha?

The Charkha is a simple, hand-driven spinning wheel used to turn cotton fibers into yarn. This yarn can then be woven to make cloth. The Charkha is usually made of wood and looks like a small wheel that spins round and round. The word "Charkha" originates from the Persian word "charkh," meaning "wheel" or "circle." It is a tool that has been used by people for centuries to spin thread at home.

Origin and Development of the Charkha

The origin of the Charkha is interesting and a little debated. Historians believe it may have been invented between the 6th and 11th centuries. Some believe the spinning wheel first appeared in India between 500 and 1000 CE, while others suggest it arrived in India from places like Baghdad around 1200 CE. Before the Charkha, people spun cotton by hand using a spindle. The Charkha made this process faster and easier.

Spindle

There are several varieties of Charkhas. The oldest known type is the floor charkha, which was used by people sitting or kneeling on the ground. Later, Mahatma Gandhi created a smaller, portable version referred to as the peti charkha, designed to fold like a briefcase for easy carrying.

Peti Charkha 

How the Charkha Works

The Charkha works by turning a wheel by hand or crank. As the wheel spins, it twists cotton fibers into yarn. One hand spins the wheel while the other hand feeds the cotton fibers. This twisting turns loose cotton into a strong thread that can be used for making cloth.

The Charkha in Everyday Life

Before factories, people in villages used the Charkha daily to spin cotton for their families. Spinning on the Charkha was a common household task, especially for women. The yarn that was created was crafted into a fabric known as khadi, which was noted for being soft, comfortable, and ideal for daily attire in India.

The Charkha and India's Freedom Struggle

In the early 1900s, the British made it difficult for Indians to sell their cloth by flooding the market with British-made fabric. This hurt Indian weavers and spinners. The Charkha became a symbol of India’s fight for freedom because spinning yarn by hand was a way to refuse British goods and be self-reliant.
Mahatma Gandhi asserted that if all Indians committed to using the Charkha for one hour per day, India could liberate itself from British imports. The practice of using the Charkha and wearing khadi cloth evolved into significant acts of protest against British rule, referred to as the Swadeshi Movement.

Gandhi and the Charkha: A Symbol of Self-Reliance

Gandhi himself spun cotton every day. He made the Charkha famous as a symbol of dignity, self-reliance, and unity. For Gandhi, the Charkha was not just a tool but a reminder that freedom comes from taking control of one’s own life and work.
He inspired everyone, whether they were wealthy or less fortunate, from urban centers or rural communities, to participate in cotton spinning and to wear khadi. The Charkha became a significant national symbol and was also included on the flag of the Indian National Congress.

INC/Indian Flag (1921)

The Swadeshi Movement and Khadi

The Swadeshi Movement aimed to boycott British goods and revive Indian hand-spinning and weaving. Khadi, a hand-spun and hand-woven cloth, became a powerful symbol of this movement. People wore khadi proudly to show their support for independence and Indian arts.

Charkha Around the World

Although the Charkha is closely tied to India, spinning wheels or similar devices exist in many cultures. For example, spinning wheels were used in Europe and Asia for centuries to make yarn from wool, flax, and cotton.

The Charkha is not just a spinning wheel; it is a powerful symbol of India's independence, self-reliance, and unity. Through this simple tool, Indians found a way to fight for their freedom and pride.