Product Description

In Clothing Gandhi's Nation, Lisa Trivedi explores the making of one ofmodern India's most enduring political symbols, khadi: a homespun, home-woven cloth.The image of Mohandas K. Gandhi clothed simply in a loincloth and plying a spinningwheel is familiar around the world, as is the sight of Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, andother political leaders dressed in "Gandhi caps" and khadi shirts. Lesswidely understood is how these images associate the wearers with the swadeshimovement -- which advocated the exclusive consumption of indigenous goods toestablish India's autonomy from Great Britain -- or how khadi was used to create avisual expression of national identity after Independence. Trivedi brings togethersocial history and the study of visual culture to account for khadi as both symboland commodity. Written in a clear narrative style, the book provides a culturalhistory of important and distinctive aspects of modern Indian history.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1192206 in Books
• Published on: 2007-06
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: 1.13 pounds
• Binding: Hardcover
• 205 pages

Review
"A significant contribution to the modern history of India and, by extension, to comparative imperialism and world history." Sandria B. Freitag, University of North Carolina