GANDHI ASHRAM, AHMEDABAD

                             On his return from South Africa, 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 were because he wanted to do some experiments in living e.g. farming, animal husbandry, cow breeding, Khadi and related constructive activities, for which he was in search of this kind of barren land.

                              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 it was called the Satyagraha Ashram, reflecting the movement toward passive resistance launched by the Mahatma. It was also from here on 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.

                                    The Ashram now has a Museum also. This had originally been located in 'Hridaya Kunj', Gandhi's own cottage in the Ashram. Then in 1963, having been designed by the architect Charles Correa, the Museum was built. The Sangrahalaya was then re-located into the well-designed and well-furnished Museum building and was inaugurated by Jawaharlal Nehru, Prime Minister of India on 10 May 1963. Memorial activities could then continue.