Japanese prof in state to study Swadeshi legacy

Prof Shinoda,who speaks Hindi as well,began studying the khadi movement some 30 years ago when he studied ‘Indian Economy’ for four years at Gujarat University. He had spent six months in Gujarat Vidyapith prior to that.

His first academic paper in “appreciation of Charkha Movement” was written back then,and was based on his travels throughout North and South India.

“The British along with their use of machines had ruined the village economy. So,Gandhi came up with a very realistic movement to revive it,” he said.

But Professor Shinoda did not have the time to write a Gujarat-specific paper. His three-year project,which he has just started,will focus on the khadi movement in Gujarat specifically,he said.

“I am in the process of collecting historical data on the movement in Gujarat,and also about the two communities. I will go to the Muslim and the Hindu societies. But I also want to interview people who were alive at that time and were a part of the movement. But it is very difficult to find them,” he said.

“I think Muslims shed a lot of blood for Independence,but their role has not been highlighted much. This is a very heavy reality,” he added.