SABARMATI ASHRAM
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Context
- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson arrived in Ahmedabad as part of his two-day India trip and visited the famous Sabarmati Ashram.
About
- On his return from South Africa, Gandhiji established the first ashram at Kochrab in 1915. It was at the Kocharab Bungalow of Jivanlal Desai, a barrister and friend of Gandhi. At that time the ashram was called the Satyagraha Ashram.
- He shifted this Ashram 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 Sabarmati Ashram that Gandhiji led the Dandi march also known as the Salt Satyagraha on 12 March 1930.
- Over the years, the Ashram became home to the ideology that set India free. It aided countless other nations and people in their own battles against oppressive forces.
- Today, the Ashram serves as a source of inspiration and guidance, and stands as a monument to Gandhi’s life mission and a testimony to others who have fought a similar struggle.
- 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.