Sualkuchi is a village in the Kamrup Rural district of Assam, popularly known as the “Manchester of Assam” because of the flourishing cloth industry of the region. Sualkuchi is home to one of the most demanded fabrics in the world, the eri-muga-pat fabric. Due to the training of its people in spinning, Sualkuchi became a central spot during the Swadeshi movement.
The silk industry of Sualkuchi is believed to be as old as the Mauryan empire. Under the Pala kings and the Ahoms, the weaving and spinning industry reached its zenith and attracted worldwide fame. During the Swadeshi movement, Mahatma Gandhi heavily promoted the use of homespun cloth. When he visited Sualkuchi in 1946, he was delighted to see the active involvement of people in the production of homespun cloth. Gandhi also interacted with the weaving community of the village. He appreciated the spirit and work of the women spinners of Assam and called them ‘spinners of dreams’. Gandhi glorified them as the icons of economic self-sufficiency and Swadeshi.
Even today, the people of Sualkuchi hold Mahatma Gandhi close to their hearts. A commemorative gateway stands at the entrance of the village as a mark of respect for the leader.
Source: Indian Culture Portal