India's Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) president Amit Shah on Tuesday unveiled the world’s largest wooden charkha, made by 42 carpenters in 55 days, at Terminal 3 of New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport.
The four-tonne 'charkha' is made of high-quality Burma teak wood and is estimated to last for over 50 years. It is nine feet wide, 17 feet tall and 30 feet long. The order to make the spinning wheel was given to Paryog Samiti, a Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) unit, near Sabarmati Ashram.
KVIC chairman VK Saxena said, “Charkha, like the memorial to unknown soldiers, is memorial to the unknown rural masses, who heard the call of the father of the nation and took to the demonstrated ways of self-reliance and dignity of labour.”
The domestic spinning wheel is placed at the departure forecourt between gate number 4 and 5.
GMR Group chairman GM Rao announced that DIAL would adopt Khadi for the summer and winter uniforms of the DIAL staff at Delhi airport.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a message complimented KVIC, “The charkha is a symbol of our glorious heritage, and an inspiring reminder of our freedom struggle, led by the father of the Nation – Mahatma Gandhi.”
Modi said, “I am sure the 'charkha' will serve to remind travellers at the IGI airport of India’s timeless heritage and the values of sustainability and harmony that it stands for.”
Installation of the 'charkha' will carry on the legacy of promoting India’s rich cultural heritage through different artworks at the terminal.
The 'charkha' is an addition to the existing artwork at the terminal – Mudras, Regal Procession, Elephants statues, Surya sculpture, Suryanamaskar and Worli Art among others – which depict and showcase Indian heritage.
Terminal 3 has art from renowned Indian artists such as MF Husain, Anjolie Ela Menon, Paresh Maity, Satish Gupta, Thota Tharani among others depicting art in mediums and installations.