Question
Why did Mahatma Gandhi’s dream of clothing the nation in khadi appeal only to some sections of Indians?
Solution
It was Gandhiji dream to clothe the whole nation in Khadi. He felt khadi would be a means of erasing difference between religions, classes, etc. But it was not possible for some follow in his foot steps. Some others did not find it necessary. Here are some examples:
(i) Nationalists such as Motilal Nehru gave up his expensive Western-style suits and adopted the Indian dhoti and kurta. But these were not made of coarse cloth.
(ii) Those who had been deprived by caste norms for centuries were attracted to Western dress styles. Therefore, unlike Mahatma Gandhi, other nationalists such as Babasaheb Ambedkar never gave up the Western-style suit. Many Dalit began to wear three piece suits and shoes and socks on all public occasions, as a political sentiment of self-respect.
(iii) A woman who wrote to Mahatma Gandhi from Maharashtra in 1928 said, “My husband says khadi is costly. Belonging as I do to Maharashtra, I wear a sari nine yards long.... (and) the elders will not hear of a reduction (to six yards).”
(iv) Other women, like Sarojini Naidu and Kamala Nehru, wore coloured saris with designs, instead of coarse, white homespun.
