Foreign visitors impressed by Khadi at Rajkot

RAJKOT - Foreign visitors, particularly from the USA, are impressed by the sheer simplicity of the Khadi, the home spun cotton cloth, while visiting Rajkot.

Visitors said it has power to fire the imagination, and were amazed that the hand spun cotton could be so significant.

“I am very impressed to see the clothing here that Mahatma Gandhi used to wear. We do not see these things in America ” said, Amy Wink a journalist and a visitor from US.

Tourists are fascinated by the history of Khadi and the Charka, a wooden equipment for spinning cotton. Some of them tried their hands at the charka.

“It (operating the Charka) is a lot harder than it looks. I broke some strings a couple of times but then it is a fluid process. I really do not know how long it would take to make it but I am surprised to see how it turns out into this (the garment); it is so beautiful.” said Barbara a visitor from US.

Members of the Khadi association of Rajkot and the people associated with Khadi production in the State are very proud of the fact their enterprise is being globally acknowledged and appreciated.

“Now Khadi is not just a home product; it is gaining popularity in the international market. Earlier the foreigners and tourists used to confine their visits to great mansions of Delhi or Mumbai, now they venture out to towns like Ahmedabad and Rajkot. They take interest and observe the modus operandi of producing designer garments from Khadi,” said Rajmohan, Member, Khadi Gramudyog Board, Gujarat.

Authorities of the Khadi association state that Khadi is much more than a stereotype apparel of politicians.

Besides being a symbol of austerity and self-employment, as Mahatma promoted it, Khadi is evolving into an international vogue. (ANI)