On the occasion of the 150th birth anniversary of the great Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi, popularly known as the 'Father of the Nation,’ Indian embassy in collaboration with VCUarts Qatar, highlighted the importance of khadi, a fabric popularised by Gandhi, at a special event on Tuesday.
The event was part of the ongoing India-Qatar Year of Culture-2019. To mark the occasion of Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary, Qatar Post released a commemorative postal stamp on the occasion. Qatar Post chief operating officer Hamad Mohamed al-Fahida and Indian ambassador P Kumaran jointly released the stamp.
October 2 (today) is the birth anniversary of Gandhi who is acclaimed internationally for his values and principles of non-violence and the day is marked as the International Day of Non-violence. During the event held at VCUarts Qatar, a large gathering also witnessed the display of various clothes made of khadi as well as a fashion show presented by well-known Indian fashion consultant and stylist, Prasad Bidapa. Clothing and dresses made from khadi fabric and yarns were on display outside the venue, showcasing India’s vibrant khadi culture.
Speaking to 'Gulf Times', ambassador Kumaran said: “The release of the commemorative stamp and the celebration of khadi is a fitting tribute to the great leader of the nation. This festive celebration of khadi, the modern handmade and sustainable fabric of the people, is one of the many events we have organised in honour of Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary."
"Khadi for Indians is very much associated with the freedom movement of the country and is the fabric of freedom. Khadi is not just a fabric but the spirit of freedom for the thousands of Indians who challenged the British rule in a fearless and non-violent manner,” explained the ambassador. “In this era of rising temperatures and climate change, khadi holds a lot of promise due to its unique characteristics. It has a near zero carbon footprint as it is hand spun and uses the most minimal use of water for manufacturing the cloth. It is all the more eco-friendly as it does not generate any toxic waste products. It keeps the body warm in winter and cooler in summer through its air pockets. Each khadi product is durable, beautiful, stylish and unique,” continued the Indian envoy.
Chair of Fashion Design at VCUarts Qatar, Christopher Q Fink introduced the celebrity stylist, Bidapa as the fashion guru of India. Bidapa pointed out that khadi is one of the most sustainable and environment friendly and the most biodegradable fabric. “We are promoting khadi as the most preferred fabric and most sustainable one especially in the present era where protection of environment is a global priority. It is a very befitting occasion to promote khadi globally as we are celebrating Gandhij’s 150th birth anniversary,” he noted.
Throughout the fashion show, Bidapa presented the collections of some of the leading fashion designers of India. The show was widely appreciated by the audience comprising some prominent Qataris as well as several Indian community leaders.