History

Gandhi’s first Ashram in India was established in the Kochrab area of Ahmedabad on 25 May 1915. The Ashram was then shifted on 17 June 1917 to a piece of open land on the banks of the river Sabarmati. Reasons for this shift included: he wanted to do some experiments in living eg farming, animal husbandry, cow breeding, Khadi and related constructive activities, for which he was in search of this kind of barren land; mythologically, it was the ashram site of Dadhichi Rishi who had donated his bones for a righteous war; it is between a jail and a crematorium as he believed that a satyagrahi has to invariably go to either place. The Sabarmati Ashram (also known as Harijan Ashram) was home to Mohandas Gandhi from 1917 until 1930 and served as one of the main centres of the Indian freedom struggle. 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.
By conceiving such a vision Gandhi and his followers hoped to foster a new social construct of truth and non-violence that would help to revolutionize the existing pattern of like.

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. Later the government seized their property, Gandhi, in sympathy with them, responded by asking the Government to forfeit the Ashram. Then Government, however, did not oblige. He had by now already decided on 22 July 1933 to disband the Ashram, which later became asserted place after the detention of many freedom fighters, and then some local citizens decided to preserve it. On 12 March 1930 he vowed that he would not return to the Ashram until India won independence. Although this was won on 15 August 1947, when India was declared a free nation, Gandhi was assassinated in January 1948 and never returned.

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.

Museum Features :


"My life is my message" gallery, consisting of 8 life-size painting and more than 250 photo-enlargements of some of the vivid and historic events of Gandhi's life Gandhi in Ahmedabad Gallery, tracking Gandhi's life in Ahmedabad from 1915–1930. Life-size oil painting gallery,Gandhi quotations, letters and other relics exhibition.
Library consisting of nearly 35,000 books dealing with Gandhi's life, work, teachings, Indian freedom movement and allied subjects, and a Reading Room with more than 80 periodicals in English, Gujarati and Hindi .Archives consisting of nearly 34,117 letters to and from Gandhi both in original and in photocopies, about 8,781 pages of manuscripts of Gandhi's articles appearing in Harijan, Harijansevak, and Harijanbandhu and about 6,000 photographs of Gandhi and his associates. An important landmark of the Ashram is 'Hridaya Kunj' where some of the personal relics of Gandhi are on display. Ashram book store, a non-profit book store selling literature and memorabilia related to Gandhi and his life work and also supports local artisans.

Ashram Activities :


The Sabarmati ashram which receives about 7 lakh (700,000) visitors a year houses, photocopies of about 34,000 letters written by Gandhi and about 8000 photographs and 165 films and of course, Hriday Kunj, the house where Gandhi and Kasturba stayed from 1918 to 1930.Collecting, processing, preserving and displaying archival materials (writings, photographs, paintings, voice-records, films, personal clothes etc.
A charkha' used by Gandhi to weave khadi and the writing table he used for writing letters are also few of the priceless items kept here.Charkha kept at Gandhi Ashram, Microfilming, lamination and preservation of negatives Arranging exhibitions on aspects of Gandhi’s life, literature and activities Publication of the "Mahadevbhani Dairy," which chronicles the entire history of the Indian freedom struggle .The Ashram Trust funds activities that include education for the visitor, the community and routine maintenance of the museum and its surrounding grounds Keeping contact with as well as helping and undertaking study and research in Gandhian thought and activities and publishing the results of such study and research and allied literature for the benefit of the people.Observance in a suitable manner of occasions connected with Gandhi’s life Maintaining contact with the youth and student community and providing facilities to them for the study of Gandhian thought.

A Walk in Gandhi Ashram


With prior appointment from The Secretary, Gandhi Ashram Preservation & Memorial Trust, Gandhi Smarak Sangralaya, Gandhi Ashram Ahmedabad 380 027 walking tour can be organised. This 90 minutes guided tour starts with slide show and ends at Library. This guided tour visits places as follows:

Magan Niwas - Magan Gandhi - A Soul of ashram also introduced different design of charkhas.

Upasana Mandir - Prayer Ground Where ashramite listened to bhajans-hymns and reading from Holy Gita, Quran & Bible.

Hriday Kunj - Like heart in a body this centrally located abode supplied energy to the entire place.

Vinoba-Mira Kutir - One hut where Vinoba Bhave & Ms. Madeleine, British admiral's daughter stayed.

Nandini - This was the guest house of Ashram.

Udyog Mandir - A Temple of industry symbolizing self reliance & dignity of labour.

Somnath Chattralaya - It is cluster of rooms occupied by ashramities who forsook family affairs and shared Ashram.

Teacher's Niwas - Bapu's associates stayed at teacher's chali.

Gandhi in Ahmedabad - The Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalaya (Museum) was opened in 1963. This gallery exhibits major events of Gandhiji's life from 1915 to 1930 in Ahmedabad.

Painting Gallery - Eight life size paintings have been displayed.

My life is my message - Events which were turning points in Gandhiji's and which ultimately changed the history of India are depicted through oil painting and photographs.

Library & Archives - Archive preserves legacy of eternal Gandhi in 34,000 manuscripts, 150 felicitations, 6,000 photo negatives, 200 files of photostats etc. And Library has 35,000 books including 4,500 books from Mahadevbhai Desai's personal collection and books on Gandhian thought. It is a valuable resource for researchers.