GANDHI ASHRAM- THE PLACE WHERE ONE

FIND PEACE AND TRUTH – AHMEDABAD

1612329 SABIHA BUJAWALA

1612307 RISHITA ADANI

1612310 RIYA MEHTA

B.COM

FY- BATCH F
INTRODUCTION

Sabarmati Ashram, formerly known as 'Satyagraha Ashram", situated in Ahmedabad at the

Kocharab Bungalow of Jivanlal Desai, a barrister. Later on it was shifted to the banks of
Sabarmati river and then it came to be known as 'Sabarmati Ashram'. Gandhi stayed at the
Ashram from 1915 to 1933 later on the Ashram was disbanded. The Ashram is a witness to
many important historical events.

It was from his base here that Gandhi led the Dandi march also known as the
Salt Satyagraha on 12 March 1930. In recognition of the significant influence that this march
had on the Indian independence movement the Indian government has established the ashram
as a national monument.

His house Hridaykunj  in the ashram complex touches anybody's heart. A simple house with
ample light and air facing the Sabrmati river. Per Indian mythology, it seems the place was
the site of ancient Dhadhichi ashram. Dhadhichi Rishi was a sage who sacrificed his life so
that his bones could be used in making a weapon to kill a demon.

He lived on this open land because he wanted to do farming, cattle breeding, khadi etc
enough for living- essentially self sufficiency. Gandhiji started his Dandi March (241-miles
walk) from this place in protest of British Salt Law and this march had a remarkable
influence on the movement of Indian Independence. It is the home of the ideology "Swaraj"
which set India free. During this march the government seized this property and Gandhiji said
he would return to the place only after India was free. 

HISTORY

Gandhi's India ashram was originally established at the Kocharab Bungalow of Jivanlal

Desai, a barrister and friend of Gandhi, on 25 May 1915. At that time the ashram was called
the Satyagraha Ashram. But Gandhi wanted to carry out various activities such as farming
and animal husbandry, in addition to other pursuits which called for the need of a much larger
area of useable land. So two years later, on 17 June 1917, the ashram was relocated to an area
of thirty-six acres on the banks of the river Sabarmati, and it came to be known as the
Sabarmati Ashram.

It is believed that this is one of the ancient ashram sites of Dadhichi Rishi who had donated
his bones for a righteous war. His main ashram lies in Naimisharanya, near Lucknow, Uttar
Pradesh. The Sabarmati ashram is sited between a jail and a crematorium, and Gandhi
believed that a satyagrahi has invariably to go to either place. Mohandas Gandhi said, "This is
the right place for our activities to carry on the search for truth and develop fearlessness, for
on one side are the iron bolts of the foreigners, and on the other the thunderbolts of Mother
Nature."

The Ashram is not functioning anymore but now houses a museum where picture galleries
and artifacts of Gandhi are displayed. The pictures include major events from Gandhi's life
and also Indian Independence movement. The ashram book store has a great collection of
books written by Gandhi, about Gandhi, India's Independence movement and related topics.
Also available are souvenirs. 
There wasn't much water flowing in the river Sabarmati. But, it is a peaceful experience to
stand in the ashram premises and watch the river, bridge and the horizon. A respite from the
heat of Ahmedabad!

REASONS WHY ONE SHOULD VISIT GANDHI ASHRAM

There are few places that give you tranquility like none other, and this is what Irrfan felt
when he visited the Sabarmati Ashram on Sunday with his son. The actor, who plays a
vigilante in his upcoming film, Madaari, shares with a clear longing in his eyes, "I wish I was
alone there, and I wish I had more time to just experience the place where it all happened. 

The Ashram premises houses a museum, which has five units – office, library, two photo
galleries and an auditorium. It is perhaps having the largest number of original manuscripts of
Gandhiji’s letters and articles.
The museum has eight life-size colour oil paintings and an exhibition on Gandhiji’s life “My
life is my message” and “Gandhiji in Ahmedabad”.
The Ashram is open from 8.30 am to 6.30 pm throughout the year and admission is free. For
school tours and large groups it is advisable to inform the Ashram so that a guided tour (free
of charge) can be organised. So it’s comfortable for everyone to come and visit as the ashram
is open from morning till evening.

We came to know about the life of gandhiji and also the problems which were phased by
gandhiji.

The modular simplicity of the structure is continued in the use of basic materials: stone
floors, bricks walls, wooden doors and louvred windows devoid of glass, and riled roofs. The
units are grouped in a consciously asymmetric manner to be analogous to the Indian village
with its pathways and seem ingly randomly placed buildings and its meeting points; in this
instance the central water court.