Gandhi saw in industrialization a hidden evil that tied men
into a vicious web of materialistic world. The promise of science, technology
and prosperity were illusion that threatened our nation and even the souls of
our men. Running blindly after westernization made our youth lose their
identity. Wearing English dress, learning in English medium school, working in
industries controlled by British, masked as modern and liberal and which
Indians were proud of, were only created for the profit of our oppressor [1]. This 'modern' attitude was advertised by British because it bred an industry, like the Manchester clothes, that were controlled by British. In this
culture both consumer and worker become slave to machines of those big industries in Britain; a culture that promote
suspicion, hatred, racism and exploitation [2]. It was draining India's wealth, and spoiling indigenous industries. It was making us poor. Gandhi was right in a way. We see the same attitude even today that makes a women who dress in traditional fashion be named 'bahenji', or someone who is poor in English as illiterate. We also see it in our obsession for fairness. The thought that 'Western' equal 'Modern' in itself show lack of intelligence. Thinking that a women in burka as not intelligent is equally shameful as calling a women in bikini a slut. Gandhi thus called for
renunciation of everything western, and complete non-cooperation with the Government.
He urged people to follow simple lifestyle and use of indigenous products, the
symbol of it being the ‘chakara’, or the spinning wheel. That would help Indians become self sufficient. Gandhi thus started
the Chakara agitation inviting all Indians to spin the wheel. This extreme
view, however, was criticized by Rabindranath Tagore, one of Gandhi’s greatest
admirers and one who gave Gandhi the title ‘mahatma’.
