SABARMATI ASHRAM
– - A COMMAND POST OF FREEDOM STRUGGLE
Digant
K. Dave*
Sabarmati Ashram
built on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, became the nerve centre of
the Indian freedom struggle. From here, Gandhiji, the apostle
of peace and also the founder of the Ashram, guided India to freedom.
It was a spectator to his strategies and plans, which he chalked
out to make the freedom struggle a mass movement. Hence it assumed
the significance of being the most important place in the history
of country’s freedom struggle that reminds everyone of the most
inspiring leader of the world in the 20th century, Gandhiji, his
life, his message and his service to the nation.
. It is enough a
reason that made it the first place visited by the present President,
Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam after he became the President of the country.
In fact, he told the children at the ashram that Gandhiji had
been his role model right since childhood.
Sabarmati Ashram
is also known as Satyagraha Ashram, Harijan Ashram and Gandhi
Ashram. It is the third of the four ashrams set up by the Mahatma
in his lifetime. The other three ashrams were - Phoenix settlement
near Durban, Tolstoy Farm in the Transvall, both in South Africa
besides, Sevagram at Wardha in Maharashtra during the freedom
struggle. Out of the four ashrams Sabarmati Ashram continues to
be the best preserved with maximum of his remembrances in different
forms as it happens to be the place of his longest stay in the
country during his life time.
Soon after his
return from South Africa in January 1915, Gandhiji expressed his
desire to found an ashram to settle down with the inmates of his
Phoenix Ashram, who had returned with him. Although his admirers
and friends suggested several places like Hardwar, Vidyanathadham
near Kolkata and Rajkot but he, however, chose to set up his ashram
in Ahmedabad. Behind his decision was his strong desire to serve
the country through his mother tongue, Gujarati besides, reviving
hand spinning as Ahmedabad had been an ancient handloom centre.
There were also possibilities of getting monetary help from wealthy
citizens of the city. He founded the Satyagraha Ashram on May
25, 1915 in a bungalow in Kocharab then a small village near Ahmedabad
with 25 ashramites. It was offered by Barrister Jivanlal Desai.
As plague broke out in Kocharab , Gandhiji had to shift to another
place, about four kms to the north of Kocharab on the banks of
Sabarmati river.
Gandhiji liked
the Sabarmati location because of its vastness (36 acres of land)
and proximity to sage Dadheechi’s temple, who as per a legend
sacrificed his life to help Lord Indra to prepare a Vajra from
his ribs to defeat demons. This ashram was started in July 1917
with 40 ashramites in several canvas tents on the land infested
with venomous snakes. The main object of the ashram was to qualify
for and make a constant endeavour towards national service. Prayer
formed an important part of the ashram life and other conditions
for the inmates included self help, celibacy, belief in humanity,
respect for all religions, non-possession and eradication of untouchability.
All along his stay at the ashram for 13 years from July, 1917
to March 1930, he inspired, shaped, led and guided a number of
movements, programmes, struggles and satyagrahas all aimed at
the freedom of India. Most of the constructive activities of Mahatma
Gandhi, supplementary to the freedom struggle, like eradication
of untouchability, basic education, khadi activities, swadeshi
andolan, cleanliness campaign and prohibition were also started
from the same hallowed land. It was again during his stay at the
Sabarmati Ashram that the first trial for sedition by the British
empire was conducted against him. From here only he went to jail
for the first time besides going on fast for the first time in
India, while at the ashram.
In 1918 Gandhiji
led the workers of the textile mills of Ahmedabad to go on a strike
against unjust cut in their bonus. At one point he went on fast
and within three days a settlement was reached and 21 day’s strike
soon ended. In 1930, it was from here he embarked upon the historic
Dandi March with 79 Satyagrahis to break the salt laws of the
British empire. As the Mahatma with a 54 inches long stick in
his hand led the March, to 241 miles away Dandi village on a seashore
near Surat, lakhs of people greeted him on the way. Gandhiji had
publicly declared before he left the ashram that under no circumstances
he would return to the ashram till the freedom was won. Dandi
March brought tremendous awakening amongst the people all over
India. Mahatma Gandhi symbolically broke the salt laws by illegally
picking up a fistful of salt on the Dandi seacost on April 06,
1930. This signalled the launching of a massive non-co-operative
struggle during which lakhs of people were arrested for defying
the salt laws and boycotting foreign cloth and liquor. To curb
the struggle Gandhiji was arrested at Karadi Camp on the 4th May.
Needless to say that Gandhiji thereafter never returned to ashram
and disbanded the ashram in August, 1933.
Since 1951, the
ashram is being looked after by the Sabarmati Ashram Preservation
and Memorial Trust. Sabarmati ashram has, after the martyrdom
of the Mahatma, become the first and foremost historical place
associated with his pioneering activities in the country during
the freedom struggle. For 13 long years from 1917 to 1930, it
had been the Command post of freedom struggle. It attracts five
to six lakh people every year not only from all over India but
also the world over including a large number of VVIPs and VIPs.
In the center of the ashram stands Hridaykunj, the 3 room residential
quarters of Gandhiji and Kasturba from 1918 to 1930, a witness
to innumerable historic decisions and events during freedom struggle.
It is a hallowed place treasuring Gandhiji’s charkha, writing
desk, Chappals and some other articles of personal use. In the
front of this sacred place is Upasana Bhomi – prayer ground. On
the right there are two small Kutirs which were once occupied
by the great satyagrahi and sarvodaya worker Vinoba Bhave and
Miraben – originally a British lady Ms. Madeleine Slade. To the
left of Hridaykunj is Nandini – the guest house of the ashram
during the freedom struggle. Khadi Vidhyalaya – training centre
for Khadi workers and Magan Nivas, residence of the first ashram
manager – Maganlal Gandhi are also situated on the same complex.
Sabarmati
Ashram has now turned into the biggest pilgrimage centre to pay
homage to the Mahatma. Nearby Gandhi Smarak, Sangrahalaya treasures
memory of the great leader in the form of his original letters,
photos, relics and Gandhian literature. Eternal importance of
Sabarmati Ashram seems never to fade away.
*Freelance
Writer, Ahmedabad
