A world without cotton is unimaginable. As the most important fibre crop globally, cotton has had a cherished history dating back to centuries. In the Indian context, cotton is considered more than a mere textile product, for it has played a key role in shaping its political and social culture. It is in recognition of its virtues that July 8 is going to be celebrated as ‘Cotton Day’.
The driving force behind the move to celebrate Cotton Day is the Coimbatore-based SKAAT Group which has carved a niche for itself in the field of fancy yarns. The group has now its diversified presence spanning industry verticals like renewable energy, medical and the food & beverage industry.
The idea of celebrating Cotton Day is the brainchild of Mr. G. Radhakrishnan, Managing Director of the company, who is also an accomplished scholar and researcher. “Mother Cotton is one of the greatest assets of the textile industry. I personally feel that everyone in the textile industry should honour her and make sure that the future generations follow the same and accord her the due respect that she deserves on this particular day every year,” said Mr. Radhakrishnan, going into details about the trigger behind his passionate advocacy of the Cotton Day.
The SKAAT Group that was started in 1999 has now its presence in over five countries globally and continues to maintain a healthy growth rate. The group has always been known for its corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.
Dwelling further on the need for Cotton Day, Mr. Radhakrishnan said: “Cotton, or ‘White Gold’, is a natural fibre that continues to play an important role in the world economy. In fact, it has been playing a key role since ancient times. It has been cultivated by humans since 3500 BCE approximately in four distinct geographical regions – Africa, South America, India and Central America”.
Why July 8?
Speaking further about the significance of July 8 being chosen as the Cotton Day, he explained: “I am a staunch follower of Mahatma Gandhi’s teachings, just as millions of my other countrymen. It was on July 8, 1921, that Gandhiji launched the civil disobedience and non-cooperation movement, wherein he encouraged people to boycott British goods, especially cotton textiles, and instead use homespun, woven ‘khadi’, which went on to become one of the enduring symbols of our country’s freedom fight”.
Gandhiji launched the movement with a call that every Indian spin his or her own cloth or purchase only hand-spun Indian cloth. This was in protest against the colonial practice of milling Indian-grown cotton in Britain before selling it back in India.
Gandhiji working on his ‘charka’ and weaving his own clothes became an abiding image of the Indian freedom struggle. Following in his footsteps, millions of people across India soon started making their own cloth as a political statement. This cottage industry became a staple of the country’s rural economy. Khadi clothes and the ‘Gandhi cap’ made out of the cloth material soon became the fabric of the freedom struggle.
The kind of impact that the khadi movement had in the history of India is well entrenched in the minds of Indians. Millions of people across the country took up weaving of khadi, which not only helped them feel themselves an integral part of the freedom struggle, but also additionally supplemented the income that they earned from toiling in the fields.
Mr. Radhakrishnan and his team at SKAAT have been celebrating the World Cotton Day by planting saplings for the last few years.
According to him, one of the worrying trends in modern times has been the gradual dwindling of agricultural land due to increasing pollution. “This has also had its impact on cotton, with fewer farmers now willing to grow cotton.”
Mr. Radhakrishnan firmly believes that the revival of agriculture will surely have its beneficial impact on cotton growing farmers. This has led him to lead a mission of planting trees on July 8 for the past few years as a way of celebrating Cotton Day. Team members from the SKAAT Group have also been regularly distributing plant seeds for the betterment of the environment as part of its CSR initiatives.
“It is the bounden duty of everyone in the textile industry to honour and respect ‘Mother Cotton’. Let us take a pledge that we will give back to the society what we take from it and honour ‘Mother Cotton’ on July 8. I request all my fellow brethren in the textile industry to come together for this noble endeavor and contribute our might towards the betterment of the textile industry and the environment on the whole of this day,” added Mr. Radhakrishnan.
The SKAAT Group has planned some innovative initiatives to celebrate the Cotton Day. Apart from planting trees and distributing seeds, the group is also planning a contest on all information related to cotton. The winners of the contest will be chosen based on the most innovative ideas and suggestions which could lead to a transformation of the textile industry as a whole.