Iconic Badanavalu Khadi centre in spotlight

Mysuru, NT Bureau: The Khadi and Gramodyog Centre at Badanavalu in Nanjangud taluk which the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi visited twice in 1927 and 1932, once again draws attention when the nation celebrates its 78th Independence day on Thursday.

The Khadi Centre, which began operations in the 1920s during Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar's reign , earned a unique place in history books following visits by Gandhi. Badanavalu is a village in Mysuru district and houses several small-scale and cottage industries.

It is situated at a distance of about 33 km from Mysuru on the highway to Chamarajanagar. Gandhi's close follower Tagadur Ramachandra Rao brought him here to popularise khadi in the region as the centre was operated by dalits and women. 

This 9-acre Khadi Centre campus consists of spinning wheels, weaving units, paper-making units, bleaching units, and handloom units even today. The hand-spun yar n and the making of Khadi clothes is still quite visible in this village.

The spinning and weaving centre offers employment to around 70 men and women, mostly from villages in the vicinity. The Kendra also provides employment to orphans and housewives along with others.

Currently, even old people aged above 90 years are active employees of the Kendra which has set up several showrooms and centres in Mysuru, Mandya and Hassan districts.

The Badanavalu Khadi Gram Udyog Centre which once had only four Dalit women, now acts as a source of employment to many villagers.

Though several great theatre personalities like Prasanna, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi and ministers visited this centre and demanded that it should be developed on the lines of Sabarmati Ashram, it remains neglected.

 Speaking to News Trail, historian Professor Nanja Raje Urs said that Gandhi was invited to Badanavalu to popularize khadi products spun by dalits across the country when untouchability, caste discrimination and a ban on entry of dalits into temples was still prevalent. There is an urgent need to develop this centre on the lines of Sabarmati Ashram, as a heritage Ashram, he felt.