WHAT TO DO WITH THE YARN?

[Prof. Dr. Yogendra Yadav]

Prof. Dr. Yogendra Yadav

Gandhian Scholar

Gandhi Research Foundation, Jalgaon, Maharashtra, India

Contact No. – 09415777229, 094055338

E-mail- [e-mail];[e-mail]

 

 

 

WHAT TO DO WITH THE YARN?

 

 

The Khadi Board continues to receive queries as to the use to be made of the yarn that is to be delivered to it by Congress representatives. In accordance with the Congress resolution, every representative has to send at least 2,000 yards of well-twisted, even yarn per month. It is in the nature of a subscription. But all kinds of questions are being raised. Some members want to keep the yarn themselves and have it woven for personal wear. It is an excellent idea but, at the present moment, I would suggest suppression of that desire. The efficacy of any programme depends upon uniformity and punctuality and the magnitude of execution. It is the volume that counts. But the volume is impossible if each member wants to act according to his own wish. Whilst. There is much to be said in favour of each member spinning for his own clothing, at the present moment much more is to be said in favour of co-operative spinning. The cost of sending the yarn is of no consequence when it is remembered that parcels are to be made up in each province and dispatched to the Central Board. But look at the advantages:

(1) Monthly return of yarn.

 (2) Check from month to month on the quality of spinning and consequent possibility of improvement.

(3) Check upon danger of slackness on the part of spinners.

(4) A healthy rivalry between spinners and provinces as to the quantity and quality.

(5) The certainty of cheapening the price of khaddar if the response of the Congressmen is at all in accordance with the resolution. My advice to the Khaddar Board will be to have all the yarn woven where it can be done cheapest unless each province would prefer to have it locally woven. The khaddar should be sold at very low rates to the poor in famine areas at the discretion of the Board. It can be sold to the spinners at concession rates if they so desire. But it is really too early at this stage to decide finally as to the disposal of the khaddar manufactured from the yarn. Much must depend upon the quantity received. I suggest to those who are anxious to wear khaddar woven from yarn of their own spinning that it is much more meritorious to pool the whole yarn and for individuals to receive khaddar equal in weight to their own yarn. Under the circumstances created by the A.I.C.C. resolution, the desire to wear khaddar of self-spun yarn will be regarded selfish in comparison to its gift to the common fund. Lastly, no member is bound to send more than 2,000 yards of yarn if he does not wish to. He may give half an hour to the nation and keep another half hour’s labour for his own use. Let me say to novices that many have already finished their quota of 2,000 yards. And those who are giving all their spare time to spinning hope to go beyond 10,000 yards.

Some members of the staff of the Gujarat Vidyapith, though not Congress representatives, are spinning 5,000 yards each per month of which they will give 3,000 to the nation and collect the remaining 2,000 for their personal use. I would urge the Congress men and women, whether representatives or others, for the time being willingly and whole-heartedly to fall in with the national project, imperfect though it may appear to them to be. They will find that it will become perfect by reason of hearty co-operation. No scheme has yet been produced by the human brain which has not contained flaws or which has not been criticized. But practical wisdom consists in helping the execution of a scheme which has commended itself to the majority. Every objection must not be raised to the dignity of conscience. Fundamentals are very few indeed In any case, there can be no question of conscience in deciding whether it is better to pool 2,000 yards of yarn or reserve it for one’s own use.