Sabarmati Ashram  Â
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Context
- In October 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proposal for a larger Sabarmati Ashram complex had caused much anxiety among its Trustees and residents, with the ashramwasis — third or fourth generation of ashram residents — sitting on protests fearing eviction.
About
- On his return from South Africa, Gandhi established the first ashram at Kochrab in 1915 which he shifted after the plague to a piece of open land on the banks of the river Sabarmati in 1917 for experiments in farming, animal husbandry, cow breeding, Khadi and related activities.
- Sabarmati Ashram (also known as Gandhi Ashram) is thus located in the Sabarmati suburb of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, on the banks of the River Sabarmati.
- This was one of the many residences of Mahatma Gandhi who lived at Sabarmati (Gujarat) and Sevagram (Wardha, Maharashtra) when he was not travelling across India or in prison.
- He lived in Sabarmati or Wardha for a total of twelve years with his wife Kasturba Gandhi and followers, including Vinoba Bhave.
- The Bhagavad Gita was recited here daily as part of the Ashram schedule.
- It was from here that Gandhi led the Dandi march also known as the Salt Satyagraha on 12 March 1930.
- In recognition of the significant influence that this march had on the Indian independence movement, the Indian government has established the ashram as a national monument.