Gandhi and the Charkha Wheel

There are two basic styles of charkhas. One is called a table top charkha although not all of them would fit on a table, and a box charka. The table top version is the oldest known spinning wheel. The drive wheel is turned by hand and the yarn is spun off the point of the spindle. There is no flyer arrangement so that spinning has to stop in order to wind the yarn onto the spindle in the same manner as the great wheel or walking wheel The yarn is spun by holding the wool slightly to and angle to the shaft so that it doesn’t wind on. Then, when there is enough twist to the yarn, it is held to one side so that it will wind on.  

The box wheel has the wheels laying horizontally in a box that folds up for portability.Some charkhas even have a third wheel called an accelerator that increases the spin from the large drive wheel to the smaller on the shaft. This makes the shaft spin faster and is excellent for spinning short, slippery fibers like cotton.

Mahatma Gandhi spun on a charkha and encouraged others to do the same. He saw the charkha as a symbol of independence for India. During his time, cotton was grown in India where the men harvested it and loaded it onto ships bound for England. There it was spun and woven into cloth and shipped back to India. It was so expensive that the men who grew and harvested it could not afford to buy it.

Gandhi often spun in public as a non violent protest. He is credited with the development of the box charka and the accelerator wheel. He also saw spinning as therapeutic, and called it the “elegant art.” He stated that it calmed the mind, promoted steadiness of thought and helped to control passion.

“The message of the spinning wheel is much wider than its circumference.
Its message is one of simplicity, service of mankind, living so as not to hurt others, creating an indissoluble bond between the rich and the poor, capital and labour, the prince and the peasant. That larger message is naturally for all.”

--Gandhi

Recently, some modern spinners have rediscovered the charkha and have formed online groups dedicated to the art of the charkha. Craftsmen are turning out beautiful versions of them. One company, makes inexpensive spinning wheels out of PVC pipe and have developed their own version of the Charkha You can even even make your own if you’re handy with tools.

The Charkha
Instructions for making a tabletop charkha with pictures

Babe's Fiber Garden
PVC Charkas

Cigar Box Charkha
Make your own charkha in a cigar box