Sabarmati Ashram and Gandhi Memorial Museum, a Photo Essay
Don’t miss the opportunity to visit Sabarmati Ashram and Gandhi Memorial Museum if you are anywhere around in Ahmedabad, the old capital of Gujarat.
Mohan Das Karamchand Gandhi stayed in this ashram from the year 1917 until 1930. It served as his karmabhoomi (The Land Where One Works), one of the main center stages of the Indian freedom struggle. Sabarmati Ashram was previously known as Satyagraha Ashram, also called as Harijan Ashram.
Gandhiji’s Sabarmati Ashram Interesting Facts
Gandhiji chose this spot close to the Saint Dadheechi’s temple as well as from Jail and a crematorium.
According to ancient Hindu scriptures saint Dadhichi used to live at this very site where the ashram stands today. Saint Dadhichi sacrificed his life so that the devas (Gods)could make the Vajra, a weapon, using his bones to defeat the asuras (demons).
MK Gandhi was of the opinion that, “This is the right place for our activities to carry on the search for Truth and develop Fearlessness for on one side are the iron bolts of the foreigners and on the other, thunderbolts of Mother Nature.”
According to him – a true satyagrahi will end up in either one of these places.
Sabarmati Gandhi Ashram was established in 1917. It is at a distance of 7 km from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel international airport.
The house where he stayed was named ‘Hriday Kunj’ by Kakasaheb Kalelkar as it was in the heart (Hriday) of the Ashram. Many national and international leaders came to meet Gandhiji here.
Significance of Sabarmati Ashram
It is here Mahatma Gandhi spent 12 years of his life. After returning from South Africa, he found this place to be suitable for his future activities. Here he did his experiments in living, with a major focus on manual labor, agriculture, and literacy to advance his efforts for nation’s self-sufficiency.
Another historic event this site is associated is ‘the Dandi march’. On 12th March 1930, along with 78 of his companions he set off on a protest against the British Salt Law. On that day he vowed not to return to the ashram till India got her independence.
It was while living here that Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi came to be known as Mahatma Gandhi. It was from here Gandhiji set out for the famous Salt March to Dandi, vowing not to return to the Ashram until India became free.
Spinning wheel in Gandhi Ashram in Sabarmati Banks Ahmedabad
Huts in Sabarmati Ashram
Hriday Kunj
Today the ashram is a national monument and maintained well. The Sabarmati River flows by the ashram, silently watching the various activities that are going on for years. The museum here is a rich storehouse of many things associated with life of Gandhi.
The life size photographs and paintings amazed me. There are original and photocopies of his handwritten letters, personal clothes, the charkha he used. Visiting Hridya Kunj gave me goose bumps; it is here Gandhi stayed with his wife Kasturba.
Walking stick and slippers of Mahatma Gandhi
One hut, two names; Vinoba Kutir, Mira Kutir.
Vinoba Bhave who was drawn to Gandhiji’s ideology lived here from 1918 to 1921. Vinoba’s total commitment to truth led Gandhiji to hail him as model satyagrahi.
Madeleine Slade, a young English woman, learnt of Gandhiji’s ideology from Romain Rolland’s book. She lived here from 1925 to 1933, Gandhiji named her Mira because of her great devotion.
Gandhi made footwear while staying in Ashram
Maganlal’s Home
Gandhiji’s disciple Maganlal’s home. Maganlal Gandhi was one of the first converts to the Gandhian way of life and the smooth functioning of the Ashram was possible due to his organizing capability. After he died in 1928, Gandhiji stayed in the Ashram for a few months.
painting of Salt Satyagraha in Gandhi Ashram in Sabarmati Banks Ahmedabad
Quotes on Gandhi’s life
Gandhi Memorial Museum
Gandhiji used miniature china clay statues on 3 monkeys as paper weights. They are on display in the museum. At the entrance to Sabarmati Ashram you are greeted by big statues of the 3 wise monkeys. (They are a pictorial maxim, embodying the proverbial principle “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” represented by Mirazu, Kikazaru and Iwazaru respectively.)
3 wise monkeys at Gandhi Ashram
Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalaya or Gandhi Memorial Museum
The Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalaya or Gandhi Memorial Museum is a treasure house of information and newspaper clippings of the events that happened during independence movent. The museum was designed by Charles Mark Correa, a famous Indian architect. It was inaugurated in 1963 by Jawaharlal Nehru, the then Prime Minister of India.
It houses the following sections and exhibits:
Library and Archives:Â These sections contain a large collection of exhibits that includes 34,111 letters, 1,371 manuscripts, 210 films in English, Hindi, and Gujarati languages, 612 audio cassettes, 106 video cassettes, 50, 000 books, 6,000 photo negatives, and the personal diary of Gandhi.
Gandhi in Ahmedabad Gallery: Here you can see 50 hand-drawn panels depicting the major events in Gandhi’s life from 1915 to 1930.
My Life is My Message Gallery: 250 photographs are displayed that chronicle the life of Gandhi – from his birth in Porbandar, the time he spent in England and South Africa, the freedom movement and his assassination.
Painting Gallery: There are 8 life-size portraits each of which depicts Gandhi doing various activities such as marching, meditating, spinning threads on charkha, and more.
…with his wife, Kasturba Gandhi
Some of the rolls of thread spun by him are still preserved here and his walking stick and footwear too.
Sabarmati River Bank
One is forced to witness the chaos of construction on the opposite bank of Sabarmati River from the peaceful Ashram.
“His simplicity of life is child-like, his adherence to truth is unflinching; his love for mankind is positive and aggressive. He was what is known as the Christ-spirit.” – Rabindranath Tagore.
Guided Tour in Sabarmati Ashram
A 90 minute guided tour takes you through the various kutirs (huts), displays of woven stuffs, galleries and exhibitions on aspects of Gandhi’s life, literature and activities.
Location of Sabarmati Ashram and Museum
Sabarmati Ashram and Gandhi Memorial museum is in one complex and is 9 km from Ahmedabad airport. Book air tickets to Ahmedabad which is well connected to all other major cities. From airport it takes just fifteen minutes to the Ashram.
Tips for Visiting Sabarmati Ashram
- Timings: 8.30AM to 6.30PM. Please check for public holidays, timings may vary then.
- No tickets for entry to Ashram. Group tours are advised to inform ahead of time for free guided tour.
- Photography is permitted thankfully.
- No
- parking space is available within ashram.
- Souvenirs are sold in the museum.
Souvenir from Sabarmati Ashram
The ashram hardly had any tourists. (Visited on 27 Sep. 2008). However on special occasions like Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi’s birth or death anniversary the place is jam packed. I visited this ashram at the start of road trip planned from Ahmedabad to Mt. Abu. Since there was no direct flight to Jaipur from Bangalore, we had to start our Rajasthan trip from Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
I visited this Sabarmati Ashram again for the second time in July 2015 when I was there for launch of Tata GenX Nano car. If I get another opportunity I will visit again. Definitely worth a place to spend an hour soaking in the pre-independence era memories!
I again visited Gandhi Ashram in Dec 2021 with Gujarat Tourism and spent some tranquil moments watching the Sabarmati River flowing by.
Pin this for later…
(This was first posted on Oct 13th 2008.)
Loved reading about the Sabarmati Ashram. It brought back pleasant memories of the numerous visits to the place when we were in Ahmedabad. The place always for me had a strange serenity. It used to be like an oasis in the midst of the heat and dust of Ahmedabad. The place seems to still carry the vibes of the man that the world knows as Gandhi.
as i said before a very interesting person indeed..What is particularly heartening is he is a top subject in business schools.
everything has been so carefully preserved for posterity. wow. kudos to the Indian government
Wish more people feel like you do, about Gandhiji.
(An aside: I for one was never comfortable with the popular term ‘Gandhigiri’. I prefer either ‘The Gandhian way of life’, as you have used, or “Gandhism’)
Thank you for this post. I have great admiration for Gandhi. I once heard that someone asked Gandhi if he wouldn’t like to be a Christian. His answer was “I would rather be like Christ.” There’s a goal I’d like to see more of us Christians strive for.
Thks for sharing this. Mahatma Gandhi is a great man. Hope to visit this place one day. The salt march is a great historical event!
Oh yes, you are SO fortunate to live there and have such a wonderful, peaceful experience. LOVELY shots!
Hi Indrani!
Reached here from Raji’s, who had her post in Shirdhi Saibaba, whom I have taken as my lord…
here I bow to the memories of Gandhiji, who instilled the value of truth in me…I bow in reverence, again!
thank you for the holy remembrance of the great soul and the pictures…
see again!
devika
Very lucky indeed.Must have been a peaceful experience
You are so lucky to have had the chance to visit this solemn place. It is ironic that just across there is a lot of commotion. I hope that this doesn’t spoil the solitude of Gandhi’s ashram.
What a wonderful opportunity. Thanks so much for sharing this.
These images make me stop to think. Thank you.
good to see you back 🙂
How well summarised “… For me this piece of land is holy, holier
than all the religious holy places I ever visited.” – how true.
See the peace and power in his face.
A zillion thanks for all the pictures – was seeing them with
awe and reverence.
Thanks you so much for sharing these photographs. Great post and shots. Ghandhiji was an inspirational man and he has always been a hero to me.
So happy that you could visit Sabarmati and see for yourself the place where Gandhi lived! None to equal this great man. Thanks for sharing.
I can see how peaceful is the place, quite and beautiful. Your family is privilege to visit that place.
Yes you are lucky to have lots of money to spend your family grandeur vacation..I wish that my my family will have a vacation too..Happy homecoming Indrani..
Hello Indrani !
Great post today !
Your shots are so wonderful.
Your text is a good explain.
Gandhi was e Great Man !
See You later.
Yes, u’re very lucky. Thanks for sharing these interesting photos.
lucky, lucky. interesting pics and post. i love the three monkeys.
my ws entry is posted here. hope you can visit. have a great week! thanks.
Oh Wow!!! that is very historic travel…
Good on yah!!! here is mine
indeed very lucky to see the place where this great man lived. and thanks for shared with us these wonderful shots
you are indeed lucky!!! very awesome photos.
interesting photos, love the 3 monkeys there. mine is up here hope you got time.