On Gandhi Jayanti …. a trip to Sevagram
Second of October is celebrated as Gandhi Jayanti on which Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, Father of Nation and also known as Mahatma Gandhi, was born. Indians remember this day by hearing patriotic songs based on him and organising various programmes.
On this day I remember my native place Nagpur (Maharashtra State) in India when I used to go with my family for a short trip to Sevagram. Sevagram is located near Nagpur and was Gandhiji’s headquarters.
It is an Ashram and a very famous tourist place. From this place Gandhiji guided nation for attaining freedom of India. It is 75km from Nagpur station and one can go from Delhi by train to Nagpur and then to Sevagram Rd transport is easily available from Nagpur station.
From Mumbai one can go by train up to Wardha a distance of 750km. Sevagram is 8km from Wardha station and road transport is easily available. I used to go by our car and my dad usually drives it. I was always excited to go there not only because I could get a nice break from my routine work but more because I always get attracted to this place.
Whenever I went there I felt like I entered in the past and Bapu is sitting near me. The Ashram is beautiful and reflects simplicity of life. Gandhiji himself made it and used the materials available locally.
He led a very simple life there without having the facilities like electricity. The first hut built in the ashram was Adi Nivas around which is prayer ground. There are also different things used by Gandhiji. All the things like charka are placed in a very safe and systematic manner.
There are Ba Kuti and Bapu Kuti where Kasturba and Gandhiji lived respectively. One can see Akhiri Nivas (last residence); here Gandhiji lived for few days before leaving for Noakhali and never returned. The weighing machine he used is preserved here. There is Mahadev Kuti, which was residence of Mahadev Desai, Gandhiji’s Secretary. The government made a photo exhibition on Gandhiji in 1991 and built Yatri Nivas in 1982 for the benefit of visitors and for holding training camps and conferences. There is also a Nai Talim Parisar- an adjoining area for basic education premises. There are big trees and we used to sit under the tree for delicious lunch made by my mom.
I always felt to live in the Ashram and led a simple life. One day jokingly I told my mom that I will not get married and would like to live in Ashram for my whole life. Mom said that it was not a joke and it was not easy to compromise the worldly things as Gandhiji did. We spent a very nice time in Ashram and those are my unforgettable days.
The best time to visit this place is between October and March. I think every Indian should visit Sevagram once in his lifetime and also to Nagpur, one of the greenest city in India blessed with rich forest and natural beauty.
There are also other places to visit close to Sevagram like Arogyadham where naturopathy, meditation and yoga practices are done. Magan Sangrahalaya (museum) is a very nice place for khadi lovers and Paunar Ashram.
* Anuja Kotia, of Auckland, reminisces on her trip to Sevagram
Second of October is celebrated as Gandhi Jayanti on which Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, Father of Nation and also known as Mahatma Gandhi, was born. Indians remember this day by hearing patriotic songs based on him and organising various programmes. On this day I remember my native place Nagpur...
Second of October is celebrated as Gandhi Jayanti on which Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, Father of Nation and also known as Mahatma Gandhi, was born. Indians remember this day by hearing patriotic songs based on him and organising various programmes.
On this day I remember my native place Nagpur (Maharashtra State) in India when I used to go with my family for a short trip to Sevagram. Sevagram is located near Nagpur and was Gandhiji’s headquarters.
It is an Ashram and a very famous tourist place. From this place Gandhiji guided nation for attaining freedom of India. It is 75km from Nagpur station and one can go from Delhi by train to Nagpur and then to Sevagram Rd transport is easily available from Nagpur station.
From Mumbai one can go by train up to Wardha a distance of 750km. Sevagram is 8km from Wardha station and road transport is easily available. I used to go by our car and my dad usually drives it. I was always excited to go there not only because I could get a nice break from my routine work but more because I always get attracted to this place.
Whenever I went there I felt like I entered in the past and Bapu is sitting near me. The Ashram is beautiful and reflects simplicity of life. Gandhiji himself made it and used the materials available locally.
He led a very simple life there without having the facilities like electricity. The first hut built in the ashram was Adi Nivas around which is prayer ground. There are also different things used by Gandhiji. All the things like charka are placed in a very safe and systematic manner.
There are Ba Kuti and Bapu Kuti where Kasturba and Gandhiji lived respectively. One can see Akhiri Nivas (last residence); here Gandhiji lived for few days before leaving for Noakhali and never returned. The weighing machine he used is preserved here. There is Mahadev Kuti, which was residence of Mahadev Desai, Gandhiji’s Secretary. The government made a photo exhibition on Gandhiji in 1991 and built Yatri Nivas in 1982 for the benefit of visitors and for holding training camps and conferences. There is also a Nai Talim Parisar- an adjoining area for basic education premises. There are big trees and we used to sit under the tree for delicious lunch made by my mom.
I always felt to live in the Ashram and led a simple life. One day jokingly I told my mom that I will not get married and would like to live in Ashram for my whole life. Mom said that it was not a joke and it was not easy to compromise the worldly things as Gandhiji did. We spent a very nice time in Ashram and those are my unforgettable days.
The best time to visit this place is between October and March. I think every Indian should visit Sevagram once in his lifetime and also to Nagpur, one of the greenest city in India blessed with rich forest and natural beauty.
There are also other places to visit close to Sevagram like Arogyadham where naturopathy, meditation and yoga practices are done. Magan Sangrahalaya (museum) is a very nice place for khadi lovers and Paunar Ashram.
* Anuja Kotia, of Auckland, reminisces on her trip to Sevagram
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