Sabarmati Ashram turns 100 today; harijans allege exclusion; call it a form of ‘untouchability’
The Sabarmati Ashram completes 100 years on Saturday. For the centenary celebrations, the Sabarmati Ashram Protection and memorial trust will celebrations. Ironically, Harijan Ashram, as the place was known in the days of yore, has no place in the top-level management for the community after whom it has been named.
The harijans have been residing on the land opposite the ashram for many years. However, they claim they have not been included in the celebration. The residents have now planned their own celebrations.
They will be lighting lamps at every house on Friday and Saturday and burst fire crackers. On Saturday, the residents will have bhajans from 2-8pm on the ground of Imam Manzil right opposite the ashram. The programme is community-funded.
For about a week now, the members have been taking out ‘Gandhi pheri (procession)’ every night to symbolically awaken people to Gandhiji’s principles. This will continue till Saturday.
Coordinator of the Harijan Ashram Bachao Samiti Dhimant Badhiya said, “This ashram was initially called Satyagrah Ashram. In 1933, Gandhiji renamed it as Harijan Ashram. Later, it was changed to Sabarmati Ashram.”
He said, “The authorities have removed the word ‘harijan’ from the name of the ashram. This is a way of practising untouchability. We had demanded that we be included in the celebrations. We even had a meeting with chairman Ilaben Bhatt. But no solution has come of it. Hence we have decided to have our own celebrations.” The community is also protesting the fact that nowhere has the original name of the ashram been publicised.
Celebrations at Sabarmati Ashram
The ashram authorities have planned a prabhat pheri and mass cleanliness programme in the morning. Between 4.30 pm and 5 pm, chief guest Gopal Krishna Gandhi will inaugurate a gallery ‘Maru jivan e j maro sandesh’ (My life is my message).
This will be followed by sarva dharma (all-religion) prayer at 5pm. Two books —Letters to Gandhi and Pioneer of Satyagrah—will be launched. A new charkha gallery with 20 charkha of different types will be dedicated to public. There will be a musical programme from 6.30-7.30 pm.
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