Gandhi’s Charkha a symbol of solidarity for independence and freedom: Korean First Lady KIM Jung-sook

NEW DELHI: While endorsing Mahatma Gandhi’s Charkha as a symbol of solidarity for independence and freedom, the First Lady of the Republic of Korea, KIM Jung-sook today said the traditional hand-woven and eco-friendly fabric symbolized stronger relations between South Korea and India as for Korea, white woven cotton fabric has long been regarded as a symbol of the Korean people and their unwavering will.

The First Lady recalled Gandhi’s thoughts behind the symbolic Khadi and as an avid believer in Gandhian ideas befittingly wore a dress made of Banarasi Khadi.

The First Lady of the Republic of Korea, KIM Jung-sook was delivering her congratulatory message at the opening ceremony of the webinar ‘Weaving Relations: Textile Traditions’, a part of the commemoration of the 150th anniversary of Gandhi’s birth. Wearing a dress made of Banarasi Khadi, the First Lady joined the event online from Seoul.

“The charkha was indeed a symbol of solidarity for independence and freedom. In this era of mass production, this traditional hand-woven and the eco-friendly fabric is drawing wide interest. Gandhi believed that ordinary people who preserved their own culture and traditions were to be deemed as true heroes and heroines. Traditional fabrics of a nation embody the very spirit of its people. As for Korea, white woven cotton fabric has long been regarded as a symbol of the Korean people and their unwavering will,” said KIM Jung-sook in her address which she delivered in the Korean language.

“Today I am wearing a dress made of Banarasi Khadi, in order to cherish the great spirit of Gandhi. Among many prints, lotus, which is the national flower of India, reminds me of the lotus-shaped lamp I floated at the Diwali festival,” the First Lady added.

The charkha of which a replica miniature was gifted by Prime Minister Modi at the Gandhi Smriti to Korean President Moon Jae-in, was seen placed in the background of the First Lady during her online address today.

Following the video message by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she conveyed her “deepest condolences and heartfelt sympathies to all those affected by COVID-19” and recollected the special meaning behind a replica charkha gifted by Prime Minister Modi at the Gandhi Smriti during President MOON Jae-in’s visit to India in 2018.

She emphasized that “In the midst of the global pandemic, we have reconfirmed our strong bilateral ties” and conveyed her “hope that Korea and India will become the lamp that contributes to the peace and prosperity not just in Asia but around the world”.

President MOON Jae-in and First Lady KIM Jung-sook wholeheartedly participated in the Gandhi 150^th anniversary, in solidarity with Gandhi’s life and philosophy and in light of the shared friendship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and in keeping with the special strategic partnership between the ROK and India.

“Kim Jung-sook celebrated Gandhi’s spirit of non-violence and his sacrifice by participating in this webinar which presented an opportunity for further consolidating relations with India, a key partner in Korea’s New Southern Policy. This webinar also served to convey a message of hope and solidarity to the international community in the face of the COVID 19 and unprecedented financial difficulty.”

The First Lady said, “In November 2018, I made a solo trip to India at the invitation of Prime Minister Modi. I had the great pleasure of celebrating Diwali as the chief guest at the Deepotsav in Ayodhya and attending the groundbreaking ceremony of Queen Huh (Suriratna) Memorial Park. It was a deeply meaningful visit to witness and confirm that an ancient bond between Korea and India which continues to the present day will move forward into the future where our two countries will co-prosper.”

Also read: Coming to India alone was not an easy decision: Kim Jung-Sook

During his state visit to India in 2018, President Moon Jae-in had a chance to retrace Mahatma Gandhi’s footsteps when he visited the Gandhi Smriti with Prime Minister Modi. President Moon also discussed Gandhi’s philosophy of non-violence as he delivered a keynote speech at the commemoration ceremony of the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September 2019.

“Be the change you wish to see in the world,” Gandhi once said, and he himself spun his own thread on a spinning wheel, said KIM Jung-sook adding that the Khadi movement as well as the Swadeshi movement created lakhs of jobs for many Indians and fostered economic independence.