1. plural of charka; a spinning wheel used in India and other South Asian countries, traditionally used to spin cotton or wool into thread
Usage: often capitalized when referring to the traditional Indian spinning wheel associated with Gandhi and Indian independence; also spelled 'charkha'

Examples

• The museum displayed several antique charkas from 19th-century India.
• Gandhi promoted the use of charkas as a symbol of self-sufficiency and resistance to British textile imports.
• Women in the village gathered to spin thread on their charkas each afternoon.
• The charka remains an important cultural artifact in Indian heritage.
• Traditional charkas are still used in some rural communities for handspinning fiber.