On Dandi March anniversary, PM Modi launches master plan for Sabarmati Gandhi Ashram redevelopment

The central government and Gujarat government are jointly implementing the Gandhi Ashram Memorial and Precinct Development Project at a cost of around Rs 1,200 crore.

Referring to the restoration and redevelopment of the Sabarmati Ashram. “This is not my dream today. I had been on it since I was the chief minister. A lot of my time was spent in courts, because different people were creating new difficulties. The (then Congress-led) Union government was also creating hurdles then. But perhaps with the blessings of God and people, I got free of all those problems and am now realising that dream,” he said.

Modi emphasised the importance of conservation of heritage and said, “A country which cannot conserve its heritage also loses its future.”

Redeveloped Kochrab Ashram that was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in Ahmedabad. Nirmal Harindran

“This Sabarmati Ashram of Bapu is the heritage not only of India, but entire humankind. But, after Independence, justice could not be done to this heritage too. This Ashram of Bapu was once spread over 120 acres. With passing time, and due to various reasons, it shrunk to five acres. At one time, there were 63 buildings here. Out of them, now just 36 buildings have remained. And out of those 36 buildings, tourists can visit only three,” he said.

Modi said the governments after Independence had neither the idea nor the political will to conserve such heritage. “On the one hand, (they) had the tendency of looking at things from a foreign perspective and on the other hand, there were compulsions of appeasement. And because of that, our great heritage continued to be destroyed. Encroachment, uncleanliness and mismanagement—all these had covered our heritage,” he added.

‘Gandhi had dreamt of Atmanirbhar Bharat’

“Bapu had seen the dream of Atmanirbhar Bharat. Now you see, we discuss vocal for local… Basically it is Gandhi’s spirit. What else is it? Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat is indeed in it,” the prime minister said.

Modi cited his interaction with Governor Acharya Devvrat, in which the latter told him that nine lakh farmers in Gujarat had started doing natural farming, because of which use of three lakh metric tonne of urea could be averted.

“This means that the conservation of Mother Earth is being done. If it is not Mahatma Gandhi’s idea then what is it?” he said.

Modi also cited initiatives of his government to popularise Khadi and “liberate” it from being considered as clothing meant only for politicians.

“This is our way of dedication towards (Mahatma) Gandhi. And following the same principles of Gandhiji, our government is giving priority to the welfare of villages and the poor and running the Atmanirbhar Bharat campaign. Today, villages are being strengthened. Bapu’s vision of Gram Swaraj is being realised. In our rural economy, women are once again playing a key role…I am happy that today, the number of lakhpati women in self -elp groups has reached one crore. And it is my dream to make three crore lakhpati didis in my third term (as prime minister),” he added.

Modi also acknowledged the big role played by the people living in the Ashram in the restoration and redevelopment project. “The families living in the Ashram have a big role to play in the current expansion of the Ashram. It is because of their cooperation that 155-acre land of the Ashram could be reclaimed. I appreciate and thank all those families who played a positive role in this,” he said.

Modi said that the focus of the project would be to restore the buildings on the Ashram campus in their original form.

Before this, Modi also inaugurated the renovated Kochrab Ashram, which was established in the Paldi area of Ahmedabad by Mahatma Gandhi after returning from South Africa in 1915.