Khadi and Nation-Building: A Political system in Contemporary Governance

Khadi, a kind of fabric that was made by self-spinning and weaving by hand, surfaced as an important facet in India’s quest for independence as it connoted self-sufficiency and national pride. This research paper investigates the contribution of Khadi in any contemporary governance system where Khadi still serves its significance as a political or cultural icon. The research analyses how Khadi was instrumental in the Gandhian ideals of the Swadeshi Movement but has been subsequently used to give effect to the domestic aspirations articulated by successive governments towards rural uplift, employment, and cultural integration. The paper examines the question of how Khadi maintains its ‘spirit’ in contemporary politics through a qualitative study of policy papers, public documents, websites and political speeches. It also gives a further insight into the activities of institutions such as the ‘Khadi and Village Industries Commission’ (KVIC) that seek to institutionalize the fabric not only as an item of commerce but also a political construct. Moreover, the research points out Khadi’s metamorphosis into a politically backed economic self-sustaining brand that embodies tradition and globalization. By viewing Khadi from the lenses of nation- state formation processes, the paper postulates that Khadi pleasingly serves the governance purpose because it has the capability of meeting the developmental challenges at hand while at the same time upholding the ideals of the past. The research emphasizes the adoption of policies that are focused on the integration and sustainability of Khadi as an important feature in the political economy of India.