The Cult of the Charkha

Every individual of every caste has his function assigned to him, together with the obsession into which he has been hypnotized, that, since he is bound by some divine mandate, accepted by his first ancestor, it would be sinful for him to seek relief therefrom.

This imitation of the social scheme of ant-life makes very easy the performance of petty routine duties, but specially difficult the attainment of manhood’s estate.

Tagore believes that the Gandhian ethic of charkha-spinning is simply another device for lulling the human mind into a sort of conformity against the colonial government, and is not the base for any real intellectual or spiritual rejuvenation as claimed by Gandhi.

I am afraid of a blind faith on a very large scale in the charkha, in the country, which is so liable to succumb to the lure of short cuts when pointed out by a personality about whose moral earnestness they can have no doubt.

Another argument which Tagore tackles, is the one where it is suggested that even if the charkha is not playing a larger role in rejuvenating the masses intellectually, at least it provides constructive economic activity at the domestic level.

Tagore does not really challenge this argument, but only points out that there can be several such interventions in the personal sphere where one can make a constructive contribution by incorporating a small change in daily habits.

Tagore offers the essay as a personal document on why he does not endorse the Gandhian ethic of the charkha but clarifies that he believes in the larger moral authority of the Mahatma and only prays that the Indian masses can live up to the standards set by him.

Mahatma Gandhi wrote a reply to Tagore's essay in the November issue of Young India, addressing the major points of disagreement with the latter's position.