Page 50 - Mann Ki Baat English
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Mahatma Gandhi :
An Icon of Swadeshi
Mahatma Gandhi, the heartbeat of Swadeshi spirit, turned a simple
thread into the voice of a nation. He made the ‘Charkha’ a symbol of
strength and Khadi, the fabric of Independence. For him, self-reliance
was not just an idea, but a way to rebuild India’s soul. His life reminds
every Indian that true freedom begins with self-belief, faith in one’s
own strength, and pride in the nation’s roots.
During the Champaran Satyagraha (1917), Gandhi ji showed people
their own strength through the ‘Panchamrit’ or the five nectars - truth
and courage, unity, cleanliness and education, respect for women,
and wearing self-made clothes. Seeing the hardships of women, he
encouraged them to spin and weave their own garments. This simple
act gave birth to Khadi and became a lasting symbol of Swadeshi and
self-reliance.
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