Archive · 1 Feb 2026
Gandhi Debates Charka's Role in 1925
In 1925, Mahatma Gandhi visited Bengal and was invited by the Rotary Club of Calcutta to speak about the charka, a small spinning wheel he believed could help India's economy.
He spoke at the Grand Hotel, explaining that the charka could provide extra income for people in villages, where many were unemployed for months.
Gandhi said that spinning yarn on the charka could help people buy more food and support their families.
He also talked about how the charka could make India less dependent on foreign goods.
However, many business leaders in the audience were not convinced.
They argued that the charka's products were of poor quality and not practical for the market.
Gandhi defended his idea, saying that with support, charka-spun yarn could become competitive.
The debate showed the different views between Gandhi's vision for rural India and the concerns of the business community.
Gandhi spent four months in Bengal in 1925, engaging in various political and social activities.
He was invited by the Rotary Club of Calcutta to speak about the charka's economic and spiritual importance.
Gandhi argued that the charka could provide supplementary income for rural populations and reduce dependence on foreign goods.
Business leaders criticized the charka's product quality and market viability, expressing skepticism about its economic benefits.
Gandhi defended his stance, citing the need for controlled trade to support the charka and historical examples of industrial exploitation.
- Who
- Mahatma Gandhi, business leaders, and industrialists of Calcutta
- What
- A debate on the economic and spiritual significance of the charka
- When
- 18 August 1925
- Where
- Grand Hotel, Chowringhee, Calcutta
- Why
- To discuss the role of charka in India's economic growth and rural employment
- Duration of Gandhi's Stay
- 1 May 1925 to 31 August 1925
- Location of Debate
- Grand Hotel, Chowringhee, Calcutta
- Date of Debate
- 18 August 1925
- Gandhi's Main Argument
- Charka as a supplementary economic model for rural India
- Audience Reaction
- Mixed, with skepticism and criticism from business leaders
- Gandhi's Counterarguments
- Charka for supplementary income, cultural preservation, and economic independence
- Critics' Concerns
- Quality, cost, and market viability of charka products
- Gandhi's Response to Critics
- Controlled trade to support charka, historical examples of industrial plundering