Gandhi Ashram, Ahmedabad

On the last day of our trip to Gujarat, we visited peaceful environment of Sabarmati Ashram or Gandhi Ashram at Ahmedabad is on the banks of the river Sabarmati. There were people reading books and involved in various activities and total silence everywhere. This is one of the residences of Mahatma Gandhi after he returned from South Africa. Since 1917 he lived there for about twelve years along with his wife, Kasturba Gandhi.

It was established by him as he intended to conduct some experiments in living eg farming, animal husbandry, cow breeding, Khadi and related constructive activities. It served as one of the main centers of the Indian freedom struggle. While he was in the ashram he formed a school that focused on manual labor, agriculture, and literacy to advance his efforts for self-sufficiency. 

This is the place from where he launched the famous Dandi march in protest of the British Salt Law, which taxed Indian salt in an effort to promote sales of British salt in India. Over the years, the Ashram became home to the ideology that set India free. 

Today ashram has a museum, the Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalay containing life-size paintings, around 35,000 books dealing with Gandhi's life, work, teachings. Vinoba Kutir is a cottage named after Acharya Vinoba Bhave. Upasana Mandir is an open-air prayer ground. 

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.