Khadi : A Historical Journey

Contents: 1. A rich tradition of hand-spun fabrics. 2. Rise to fame: The National Movement. 3. The Raj and the end of the village industries. 4. Rise of Mahatma. 5. The fabric of freedom. 6. Giving it all a structure: the years after independence. 7. Khadi, now and forever. Bibliography.

"A chronological account of the rise of the fabric that eventually became a symbol of India\'s struggle for freedom, Khadi: A Historical Journey traces back the weave to five thousand years ago. The book tells the story of how Indian history and culture form as much a part of the fabric as cotton does.

Starting from the hints of fabric found in Harappa excavations, passing through the Nationalist Movement of India and, of course, the ideologies of Mahatma Gandhi, the book talks about the emotional journey of the fabric. But it does not stop at that. It also takes a long, hard look at the status of Khadi today. At the economics, politics and yes, the saleability of Khadi in the modern world.

Coveted by top designers around the world, the fabric is now associated with haute couture.

Ultimately, Khadi is an emotional fabric; a fabric that wove an entire nation together a one point. And while the developments in textile technology may seem to overtake it, Khadi has proved to be a timeless fabric." (jacket)