Sabarmati Ashram

In news : Recently, the Prime Minister launched the celebration of 75 years of independence – Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav by flagging off a symbolic 386-km “Dandi March” from Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad to Dandi in Navsari district of South Gujarat

About Sabarmati Ashram

Sabarmati Ashram, formerly known as ‘Satyagraha Ashram” Gandhi stayed at the Ashram from 1915 to 1933 later on the Ashram was disbanded
Establishment & Location:The Satyagraha Ashram was founded on May 25, 1915 in Ahmedabad at Kocharab Bungalow of Jivanlal Desai, who was a barrister friend of Gandhi. The Ashram was shifted on the bank of river Sabarmati on 17 June, 1917
Devoted ashramites led a community life in search of Truth and Non-violence under his guidance.
As he became the leader of the freedom struggle, the Ashram virtually became the movement’s headquarters.
It was also from here on 12 March 1930 that Gandhi launched the famous Dandi march and vowed not to return to the Ashram till India gets freedom.
It was also called a Harijan Ashram

Various places at Ashram & their significance

- Hridaya Kunj’: During his stay at the Ashram, Gandhiji lived in a small cottage which is now known as ‘Hridaya (Heart) Kunj’.

Nandini: It is on the right hand side of ‘Hridaya Kunj’. It is an old Ashram guest house, where guests from India and abroad are put up.

Vinoba Kutir: Named after Acharya Vinoba Bhave who stayed here, and also known as Mira Kutir after Mirabahen, Gandhiji’s disciple, daughter of a British Admiral.
Upasana Mandir: It is an open-air prayer ground, situated between ‘Hridaya Kunj’ and ‘Magan Kutir’ (the hut where Maganlal Gandhi, the ashram manager, used to stay).Here, Gandhiji used to refer to individual questions after prayers and as the head of the family analysed and gave his solutions.
Gandhi Sangrahalaya: It is a museum inaugurated by Jawaharlal Nehru on May10,1963. It has five units and a library, two photo-galleries and an auditorium.

Sevagram Ashram of Gandhi:

When Gandhi started his padayatra (foot march) in 1930 from Sabarmati Ashram to Ahmedabad for the Salt Satyagraha, he decided not to return to Sabarmati till India achieved independence
In April 1936, Gandhiji established his residence in a village called Segaon at the outskirts of Wardha, which he renamed as Sevagram, which means ‘village of service’.
Seth Jamnalal Bajaj of Wardha, a disciple of Gandhi, made available to the ashram about 300 acres (1.2 km2) of land
It was Mahatma Gandhi’s ashram and his residence from 1936 to his death in 1948
The ashram employed some harijans in the common kitchen to break the caste barrier. Vinoba Bhave’s Param Dham Ashram is located on the banks of the Dhaam river close by.

List of other Ashrams by Gandhi