Khadi is a soft, hand-spun cloth made from cotton that was important in India's independence movement. Mahatma Gandhi discovered the spinning wheel in London and had a vision of reviving ancient industries. He launched the khadi program in India in 1919 to encourage self-sufficiency and economic freedom. Khadi became a symbol of India's independence struggle as Gandhi wore it to show the movement was for all classes. After independence, the Indian government continued policies and organizations to support khadi and village industries as part of Gandhi's vision.