Mysuru: South India’s first and the second replicas of Sabarmati Ashram in India were inaugurated at Gandhi Study Centre premises of Manasa Gangotri, the post graduate campus of University of Mysore. Apart from Gandhi’s belongings, the ashrams have nearly 100 rare photographs including pictures of him when he was a law student in South Africa and cycling towards Sabarmati Ashram to attend prayers.
Earlier, during the inauguration of University of Mysore’s centenary celebration President Pranab Mukherjee had laid foundation stone for the Ashram. University of Mysore (UoM) took an initiative to set up a replica of the same to spread Gandhi’s principles of non-violence and truth to young minds. The construction work on the Ashram started six months ago. The Ashrams display Gandhi’s belongings. They also boasts of possessing more than 100 photos depicting Gandhi’s life and important events such as the Dandi March, life as a law student in London in 1890, he as a seven-year-old, him with Indira Gandhi when she was just six years old, his visit to Bengaluru in 1937 including a meeting with Harijans, Gandhi and Kasturba on their return to India from South Africa (1915), him cycling from Gujrat Vidyapitha to Sabarmati Ashram for the first time after his return from South Africa to reach the evening prayers on time (1928), his visit to Hudli village in Belgaum in 1937, Non-Cooperation Movement, him having discussions with Nehru during All India Congress Committee Meetings, his funeral pyre and various historic struggles for Independence against British. This apart, an exclusive library is being built to house books, journals on Gandhi, and his sayings. The department has already published 50 books on Gandhi and in days to come 50 more books will be published on the Father of the Nation.
Speaking after inaugurating the Ashrams, K S Rangappa, Vice Chancellor, University of Mysore, said, “Really it gives immense satisfaction to inaugurate replicas of Gandhi’s Sabarmati Ashram. One can’t forget Gandhi’s principles and his contribution to this country. With these Ashrams one can also expect peace. Replica of Sabarmati Ashram is a centenary gift to the Centre”.
Machane Daniel Isaac, member of Country Operation Management Team of United Nations said, “Model of Sabarmati Ashram is an attempt to bring the very essence of the lifestyle and teaching of Gandhi very close to younger generation, especially at the level of university education. It’s an important tool to create awareness among the youth towards building a society of peaceful coexistence, tolerance and attracting them towards constructive programmes which is very much required in this cutthroat competitive world where the specific values have been challenged every now and then from every dimension.”
Prior to the construction of the replicas, a team from Gandhi Study Centre, headed by its Director S Shivarajappa and Executive Engineer Kishore Chandra, had visited the Sabarmati Ashram in Gujarat, to study the plan and layout. There are also plans to construct Gandhi Path and also put up for display sculptures of Gandhi and his famous Dandi March. A proposal of Rs 2.10 Crore has been sent to the state government which has assured to allocate it during the forthcoming budget.
The replicas of the Ashram in the university campus will attract many tourists from south India while also playing a host to school children giving them the first-hand knowledge on the life of Gandhi. Former member of parliament G Madegowda was also present.
