New Delhi:
The world’s largest wooden charkha, spinning wheel used mainly for cotton, will soon be on display at the international airport in the national capital.
Charkha is closely associated with Mahatma Gandhi who had used it to symbolise India’s self-reliance during independence struggle.
Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) would be installing the wooden charkha at Terminal 3 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport.
In a press release today, KVIC Chairman V K Saxena said display of the “world’s largest charkha” at the capital’s busiest airport will inculcate the feeling of Indianness and Swadeshi among the travellers.
The charkha would be 9 metres (27 feet) in length and 5 metres (15 feet) in height.
KVIC said charkha is the symbol of the country’s independence and 2016 is also the centenary year of the arrival of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa.
Last week, during a meeting between Saxena and GMR Chief Executive Officer I Prabhakara Rao, it was decided to allot space for the charkha at departure forecourt between Gate No 4 and 5 of Terminal 3.
The airport is operated by GMR group. “KVIC will install the charkha in one month’s time which will be viewed by approximately 1,50,000 passengers every day at Terminal 3,” the release said.
