Tushar Gandhi challenges Sabarmati Ashram revamp

• Mahatma Gandhi’s great-grandson Tushar Gandhi has moved the Gujarat High Court against the Gujarat government’s ₹1,200-crore plan to redevelop Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad.
• The redevelopment plan involves extending its area from five to 55 acres by relocating residents to nearby areas.
• Tusha Gandhi says, this plan is diametrically opposed to the personal wishes of Mahatma Gandhi.
• The project would lead to the reduction of the shrine and memorial of the freedom movement and turning the ashram into a commercial tourist attraction spot.

About Sabarmati Ashram:

• Mahatma Gandhi set up the ashram and lived there from 1917 to 1930.
• It was from his base here that Gandhi led the Dandi march also known as the Salt Satyagraha on 12 March 1930.
• Originally called the Satyagraha Ashram, reflecting the movement toward passive resistance launched by the Mahatma, the Ashram became home to the ideology that set India free.
• Sabarmati Ashram named for the river on which it sits, was created with a dual mission. To serve as an institution that would carry on a search for truth and a platform to bring together a group of workers committed to non-violence who would help secure freedom for India.
• While at the Ashram, Gandhi formed a school that focused on manual labour, agriculture, and literacy to advance his efforts for self-sufficiency. It was also from here on the 12 March 1930 that Gandhi launched the famous Dandi March 241 miles from the Ashram (with 78 companions) in protest of the British Salt Law, which taxed Indian salt in an effort to promote sales of British salt in India. This mass awakening filled the British jails with 60 000 freedom fighters.

Its role in freedom struggle:

• Experiments in living. farming, animal husbandry, cow breeding, Khadi and related constructive activities. For Gandhi freedom did not just mean no British rule, but freedom from social evils and freedom to live a satyagrahi lifestyle. He developed those in Sabarmati.
• Idea of Dignity in Labour: Intrinsic to the independence movement was upliftment of the masses. Campaigns for cleanliness became a part of the Gandhian idea of a new India and In *Sabarmati Ashram both Gandhi Ji and Kasturbaji cleaned the Ashram themselves.
• Schools: While at the Ashram, Gandhi formed a school that focused on manual labour, agriculture, and literacy to advance his efforts for self-sufficiency. During the freedom struggle many Indian schools were opened as an alternate to British schools.
• Dandi March: From the Ashram, on 12 March 1930, Gandhi launched the famous Dandi march (with 78 companions) in protest of the British Salt Law.
• Home to leaders: Vinoba Bhave lived here as did Miraben.

Present architecture of the Ashram –

• The ashram now has a museum, the Gandhi SmarakSangrahalaya.
• Nandini: This is an old ashram guest house where visitors from India and abroad are accommodated. It is situated on the right hand side of HridayaKunj.
• VinobaKutir: This cottage is named after Acharya Vinoba Bhave who stayed here. Today It is also known as Mira Kutir after Gandhiji’s disciple Mirabehn who later lived there, following Gandhi’s principles. She was the daughter of a British Rear-Admiral.
• Upasana Mandir: This is an open-air prayer ground, where after Prayers Gandhiji would refer to individual’s questions and as head of family would try to analyse and solve these queries. It is situated between HridayaKunj and MaganNivas.
• Magan Niwas: This hut used to be the home of the ashram manager, Maganlal Gandhi. Maganlal was the cousin of Gandhi who he called the soul of the ashram.