&copy; Margaret Bourke-White, 1946, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi working at a spinning wheel
The spinning wheel, a device used to make yarn or thread came to symbolize the notion of Indian self-sufficiency &mdash; and thus independence from British rule. This symbolism is also part of the Flag of India:

&nbsp;&nbsp; &copy; India Post, The first stamp of independent India, released on 21 Nov 1947
Before Margaret Bourke-White was allowed to photograph Gandhi, she was informed she would need to learn the spinning wheel 