talk about Ahmedabad and not mention textiles? Gujarat’s first and India’s second textile mill, built in 1861, was established in Ahmedabad. This industry developed for the next 12 decades and gave employment to almost 60 percent of the city’s population. There were 74 textile mills in the city during the industry’s Golden Era. The textile industry gave birth to many of India’s prominent citizens and families, including the Baronet, Hutheesing , Lalbhai, Mangaldas, and Sarabhai families. The members of these families supported Mahatma Gandhi’s independence movement both financially and ideologically. These families also founded many of India’s iconic institutions, including the Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad, the National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad Education Society, The House of MG, Ahmedabad Textile Industry’s Research Association (ATIRA), and Ahmedabad Textile Mill Owners Association (ATMA). The Baronet family started the textile industry in Ahmedabad, and by the 1880s, The Sarabhai and Lalbhai families had established their mills. Ahmedabad became known as the “Manchester of the East” in the 20th century. The Sarabhai Foundation runs The Calico Museum of Textiles, a oneof-a-kind museum worldwide, as well as founding, NID and ATIR A. (Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi) Mahatma Gandhi chose Ahmedabad after returning from South Africa in 1915. He used a (charkha) spinning wheel to fight against British rule by promoting (Khadi), handspun and handwoven cloth made from indigenous cotton. Interestingly, Gandhi’s visit in 1917 marked the beginning of the Champaran protests, Gandhi’s first (satyagraha) nonviolent resistance–involving a farmers’ protest against the British’s compulsion to grow unprofitable indigo. Ahmedabad’s Sarkhej district produced indigo until the 1850s and is now home to an Indigo Museum inside the Kasturbhai Lalbhai Museum, the once home of the Lalbhai family, the country’s largest denim manufacturer. Ahmedabad is also home to the artisans of (Kalamkari) pen work, specifically (Mata ni Pachhedi), a textile made as an offering to the temple shrine which houses the Mother Goddess. The name is derived from the Gujarati words (Mata) mother goddess, (Ni) belonging to, and (Pachedi) back. The goddess forms the central figure in the design, flanked by narative icons. The Chitara community makes this unique handpainted cloth with natural dyes, mordants, and a (kalam) Bamboo stick. This art form is the foundation of the handpainted Palampore that sparked a global trade in Indian chintz in the 17th century. One can experience Gujarati delicacies while visiting the city. Thus, a visit to India is complete with a visit to Ahmedabad, as it’s a unique experience. ••• Param Pandya To sample the delights of Ahmedabad join Selvedge on our 2024 Textile Tour of India, 11 February – 8 March 2024, see www.selvedge.org for details.