Nestled quietly amidst Ahmedabad’s chaotic traffic and bustling streets, Kochrab Ashram offers a serene escape. Once you step inside its gates, the tranquility of the Satyagraha Kochrab Ashram transports you to another world. Established on May 20, 1915, this was Mahatma Gandhi’s first ashram in India.
The beautiful bungalow was generously provided by Jeevanlal Desai, an Ahmedabad-based lawyer and colleague of Gandhi. It later became the Satyagraha Ashram under Gandhi’s leadership. From here, Gandhi laid the foundation for his first Satyagraha struggle in Champaran, Bihar, in 1917, championing the rights of peasants forced to cultivate indigo by plantation owners.
Kochrab Ashram, where Gandhi stayed for two years, served as a communal living space promoting self-improvement, self-sufficiency, the pursuit of truth, non-violence, and community service. The redeveloped ashram now features modern amenities like a swanky Activity Centre while preserving Mahatma Gandhi’s belongings and historical documents.
As you enter the ashram, the main building stands amid trees and a well-maintained garden. The ground floor houses Mahatma Gandhi’s room and Kasturba’s room. Framed writings and documents offer insights into the ashram’s rich history and the context of its establishment. With few visitors, one can spend time here undisturbed.

After returning to India, Gandhi traveled across the country before deciding to establish the ashram in Ahmedabad. Inspired by Tolstoy Farm and Phoenix Ashram, which he had set up in South Africa, he founded the Satyagraha Ashram at Kochrab in 1915.
Gandhi chose Ahmedabad for his first ashram because, as a Gujarati, he believed he could best serve the country through the Gujarati language. Additionally, Ahmedabad’s history as a center of handloom weaving made it an ideal location for reviving the cottage industry of hand spinning.
Regarding the ashram’s name, Gandhi wrote, “The first thing we had to settle was the name of the Ashram. I consulted friends. Among the names suggested were Sevashram (the abode of service) and Tapovan (the abode of austerities). I liked the name Sevashram, but it lacked emphasis on the method of service. Our creed was devotion to truth, and our business was the search for and insistence on truth. I wanted to acquaint India with the method I had tried in South Africa and desired the name ‘Satyagraha Ashram’ to convey both our goal and our method of service.”

Mahatma Gandhi drafted a set of rules and observances for the ashramites, which were later adopted as ashram practices. About 25 men and women, including Maganlal Gandhi and other associates from South Africa, formed the initial members of the ashram community.
Behind the main building, visitors can explore the kitchen and the store/grain room.
The ashram faced controversy when Gandhi admitted a Dalit family—Dudhabhai, Daani ben, and their daughter Lakshmi—as members. Financial support dwindled, and despite pressure, Gandhi remained resolute, even ready to shut down the ashram. Industrialist and philanthropist Ambalal Sarabhai eventually stepped in, donating Rs 13,000 to save it from financial crisis.
Gandhi left Kochrab after a plague outbreak and later established the Sabarmati Ashram. He stayed at Kochrab Ashram for two years after returning from South Africa, where he learned to use the charkha and engaged in other activities before moving to Sabarmati.

Reflecting on life at the Satyagraha Ashram, Mama Saheb Fadke wrote in his memoir, “Ashram life was very challenging. There was little use of chillies and spices in meals. Even salt was added separately. Milk, curd, and buttermilk were not consumed. This does not mean we were starving; we were following the vow of control over the palate.”
While Sabarmati Ashram is widely known as the epicenter of Mahatma Gandhi’s freedom struggle and advocacy for non-violence, Kochrab Ashram holds its own significance as Gandhi’s first ashram in India. It stands as a symbol of his relentless battle against untouchability and his experiments in community living, truth, and non-violence. In many ways, it was here that Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, the South Africa-returned lawyer, began his transformation into the beloved ‘Bapu.’
Trivia:
- The Satyagraha Ashram is open to visitors from 9 am-5 pm.
- There are no charges for visitors.
- There’s a Khadi outlet inside the Ashram complex and you can buy Khadi kurtas, jute bags, pickles and mouth-freshners.
- Ahmedabad is well-connected to major cities of India both by air and rail.
Deepika Sahu has been a journalist for 29 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 | Facebook: Deepika Sahu
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