Sabarmati Ashram

As part of the Imagining India course we had this wonderful oppurtunity to visit the Sabarmati Ashram where Gandhiji spent a good 13 years of his life. Gandhiji stayed at the Ashram from 1915 to 1933 later on the Ashram was disbanded. The Ashram is a witness to many important historical events. Leaders and intellects from all parts of the country used to visit him here to seek his advice and guidance.

"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".- This is how

Gandhiji described the site of Sabarmati Ashram when he first visited the place for assessing if it was suitable for carrying out his work.

The site of 36 acres was a waste land full of snakes, but the order was not to kill them.

The Satyagraha Ashram, later renamed as Harijan Ashram, was started in all earnest with a two-fold purpose- one was to carry on the search for Truth, and the other was to create a non-violent group of workers, who would create a non-violent group of workers, who would organize and help to secure freedom for the country.

The Satyagraha Ashram was founded on May 22, 1915 in Ahmedabad at Kochrab, when Gandhi returned from South Africa, with 25 inmates. The Ashram was shifted on the bank of river Sabarmati in July 1917. Devoted ashramites led a community life in search of Truth and Non-violence under his guidance.For Gandhiji, 'Ashram' meant Religious Community Living. He strongly believed that intellectual strength should be exercised not to earn a living or amass a fortune but only in the service of mankind. The inmates  of the Ashram had to take and abide by eleven vows whch were:

Satya- Truth
Ahimsa- Nonviolence
Brahmacharya- Celibacy
Aparigraha- Non possession
Asteya- Non stealing
Asprushyatanivarana- Removal of untouchability
Swashraya- Bread Labor
Sarvadharma Samabhav- Equal respect for all religions
Swadeshi- USe of indigenous goods
Abhay- Fearlessness
Asvada- Control of palate

The important community activities that were carried out in the Ashram included weaving, spinning, cleaning and praying. All of these activities may be considered sufficient for the observance of bread labour.

Basically the ideal of the Ashram was to live to serve. If the insistence on truth was the foundation of the Ashram, then prayer was its source of strength. Gandhiji believed that Truth is God, and to worship the truth is prayer.

Gandhiji was involved in every dimension of life whether it be cultural, economic, social or spiritual, he was there everywhere.