Pune: In a world increasingly driven by fast fashion and consumerism, Madhav Sahasrabudhe stands out as a beacon of sustainability and self-sufficiency. For the past 12 years, this former mechanical engineer has not purchased a single piece of clothing. Instead, he embraces the traditional craft of spinning, crafting his own garments from loose cotton and yarn spun on a Charkha, the iconic tool popularised by Mahatma Gandhi.
The Beginning of a Transformative Journey Madhav’s relationship with the Charkha began in 2008 while working in Belgaum, as mentioned in a TIE report. “In my spare time, I mingled with some social workers and activists. In a gram sabha at night, a 90-year-old gentleman was spinning the box charkha,” he recalls.
Inspired, he learned to spin from this elder, marking the start of an extraordinary journey. His interactions with activists, particularly Shivaji Kagnekar, profoundly shifted his perspective on life. “I was earning hefty salaries at senior posts, but I could see how the senior management treated the workers.
I saw the exploitation from close quarters. I began wondering who is benefiting from my energy, my time, my knowledge?” This stark realisation spurred him to retire at 50 and dedicate himself to promoting the Charkha through exhibitions and workshops. Over the past 12 years, Sahasrabudhe has conducted workshops across the country, teaching the art of spinning to around 2,500 individuals.
“Even though out of the 2,500 just 200 peopl.
