This refers to the editorial, “A sartorial epiphany” (October 31). A significant rise in khadi sales during Dhanteras shows that unless the powers-that-be themselves are discerning patrons of sustainable products, the latter cannot be effectively promoted. Kudos to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on this great achievement. This is what constitutes a true tribute to the Mahatma who was a fervent champion of Khadi and who said, “like swaraj, khadi is our birth-right, and it is our life-long duty to use that only. Anyone who does not fulfil that duty is totally ignorant of what swaraj is”.
On the other hand, it is dismaying that some companies are misappropriating the tag of ‘khadi’. Khadi is not some ordinary cachet that can be mechanically branded on products, especially clothes. There is a lot of struggle and noble philosophy behind it. Only those companies who revere that should use the tag. Gandhiji expressly employed the simple but powerful medium of khadi, which offers easy, sustainable livelihoods for the impoverished masses, to defeat the economic tyranny of the British. Hence, a khadi certification that strictly tests for Gandhian socio-economic and environmental ideals is very essential.