October 2 is Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday. In India, Gandhi is known as the ‘Father of the Nation’. This day is one of the three national holidays and, worldwide, it is commemorated as the International Day of Non-violence. This year celebrates Gandhi’s 153rd birth anniversary. Here is a glimpse into Sabarmati Ashram where the man who led India’s struggles for independence against British rule called it home.
Amid the tall concrete structures of fast-growing Ahmedabad, the Sabarmati Ashram exudes a sense of minimalism and tranquility. The Ashram was home to Mahatma Gandhi from 1917-1930. Gandhiji famously led the Dandi march or the Salt Satyagraha from the Ashram on 12 March 1930.
Gandhi had then vowed that he would not return to the Ashram until India won independence. It’s an irony that even though India got its independence on 15 August 1947, Gandhi was assassinated in January 1948 and never returned to the Sabarmati Ashram.
Sabarmati Ashram was named for the river on which this simple yet elegant structure sits. Gandhi built this ashram as he wanted it to be a core centre of India’s freedom struggle and it was a symbol of his non-violent passive resistance.
When you walk into the Ashram, a sense of calmness envelopes you. And you feel far away from the hustle bustle of life in the city. The Ashram complex includes Hriday Kunj (in which Gandhiji lived with Kasutrba Gandhi). Both of them had different rooms to themselves. Hriday Kunj also has a room in which Gandhiji used to meet his visitors.
The ashram has a praying ground named as Upasana Mandir and Gandhi used to hold his prayer meets on this ground only. The ashram had a school that focused on manual labour, animal husbandry and farming. Gandhi had laid down strict rules of conduct for all its inmates.
From the main entrance of Hriday Kunj, you can now see the changing skyline of Ahmedabad and the flowing Sabarmati river. The ashram also has Vinoba Kutir in which India’s leading freedom fighter Vinoba Bhave (famous for his bhoodan (land donation movement) lived.
Today, the ashram houses a museum which displays photos, and exhibits depicting milestones in Gandhiji’s life. It also exhibits some of Gandhi’s writings and thoughts that have inspired millions across the globe.The ashram also has a shop from where you can buy books on Gandhian thoughts, Indian history, Indian politics and more, postcards, notebooks, key-chains, pens and other stationary items.
Over the years, the ashram has been a major tourist attraction in Ahmedabad. Many heads of foreign countries like former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson (2022), former American President Donald Trump (2020), former Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu (2018), Canadian PM Justin Trudeau (2018), Late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (2017) visited the ashram in recent years.
Sabarmati Ashram is open from 8 am to 6 pm and the entry is free.
Ways to reach Ahmedabad
By Air: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel airport at Ahmedabad is an international airport. Numerous domestic flights to this airport are also available.
By Rail: Ahmedabad is well-connected by rail with all major cities of India like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad.
Trivia
If you post a letter from this letter box at the Sabarmati Ashram, your letter will have a special pictorial cancellation of charkha (spinning wheel). Remember to write a letter to your loved one and post it from this letter box.
(Deepika Sahu has been a journalist for 27 years and she has worked with some of India’s leading media houses. Right now, she is independently engaged in content creation and curation. Twitter @menondeepika | Instagram @moodydeepika)
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