From Spinners to Entrepreneurs: The Evolution of Women's Role in Promoting Khadi in Contemporary India

Khadi as a movement married the ideals of self-sufficiency, resistance, and nationalism with the Vision of an India free from the British Raj. During the initial periods of the movement, women were regarded as equal contributors as they actively participated in promoting Khadi by spinning, with the endorsement of the Khadi movement. Women became an important section during this period and for decades to come in transforming the sociopolitical framework of the country. The focus of this paper is to understand the historical transitions of the role played by women in the Khadi industry, and how they evolved from spinners to entrepreneurs. In this context, it further examines the transition, and how that has contributed into defining the Khadi sector as an economic activity with an extensive base of opportunities. The research stresses the importance of women in Khadi production in the post-independence times, together with the issues of self-employability sustainable solution for rural economy employment problems. On the other hand, it analyzes the factors contributing to the rise in entrepreneurship including government’s support, technology and market accessibility. This paper simultaneously featured and explored various successful women entrepreneurs and how they are able to tackle challenges like lack of funding, inadequate facilities and strong market competition. Last but not the least, this paper discusses Khadi’s improved visibility and profitability due to the usage of current production technologies and new avenues like the internet. It is finally concluded that the enhancement of Khadi women’s status not only leads to greater gender equity but also enhances the cultural and economic dimensions of the present India.