Medium: Wood

This rare and fully functional “Jivan Charkha No.6” is a compact wooden spinning wheel, is a living emblem of India’s swadeshi movement and the enduring ethos of self-reliance ethos. Bearing a vintage paper sticker, inscribed “Property of Sunderdas Saw Mills” and “Manufactured in Bombay, India,” the piece anchors itself firmly in the industrial and artisanal history of early 20th-century India.

Meticulously crafted from seasoned hardwood, the charkha showcases a harmonious blend of durability and simplicity. Its intact spindle, drive wheel, and crank mechanism testify to the skill of its makers and the longevity of its design.

The compact scale suggests it was conceived as a portable or educational model, ideal for demonstrations, travel, or teaching—an ingenious adaptation that made the philosophy of hand-spinning accessible to wider audiences.

Beyond its mechanical function, the charkha resonates with symbolic power. It embodies Gandhi’s vision of economic independence.  In village households, it was a tool of sustenance; in nationalist discourse, it became a weapon of resistance against colonial imports.

Evocative of Gandhi’s nationalist philosophy and deeply rooted in Indian village economies, this object transcends its utilitarian function. Today, this artifact stands at the intersection of craftsmanship, politics, and cultural identity.

As such, the “Jivan Charkha No. 6” holds immense value for museum collections, heritage displays, and ethnographic archives, and freedom movement memorabilia- a rare survival that continues to spin stories of craft, community, and courage.

SIZE: Approx. L 14″ x W 9″ x H 7