Charka

A charka is one of the oldest known forms of the spinning wheel. It can be used on a tabletop or on the floor. It works by a drive wheel being turned by hand, while the yarn is spun off the tip of the spindle. The spinning must stop in order to wind the yarn onto the spindle.

The charka was both a tool and a symbol of the Indian independence movement. It is small, portable and ideal for spinning cotton and other fine, short-staple fibers. Mahatma Ghandi brought the charkha into larger use with his teachings. He hoped the charkha would assist the peoples of India to achieve self-sufficiency and independence. This led to the charkha being used as a symbol of the Indian independence movement and included on earlier version of the flag of India.