View source for Kochrab Ashram

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2018}}
{{Infobox museum
| name               = Kochrab Ashram
| native_name        = 
| native_name_lang   = 
| logo               = 
| logo_upright       = 
| logo_alt           = 
| logo_caption       = 
| image              = Kochrab ashram at night.jpg
| image_upright      = 
| alt                = 
| caption            = Kochrab Ashram at night
| map_type           = 
| map_relief         = 
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| map_caption        = 
| map_dot_label      = 
| coordinates        = {{coord|region:IN_type:landmark|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| former_name        = 
| established        = 1915 (ashram), 1953 (museum)
| dissolved          = 
| location           = [[Ahmedabad]], [[Gujarat]], [[India]]
| type               = [[museum]]
| accreditation      = 
| key_holdings       = 
| collections        = Photographs, objects, belongings of [[Mahatma Gandhi]]
| collection_size    = 
| visitors           = 19,500 (2015)
| founder            = 
| executive_director =
| deputy_director    =
| leader_type        =
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| ceo                = 
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| architect          = 
| historian          = 
| owner              = [[Government of Gujarat]]
| employees          = 
| publictransit      = [[Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Service|AMTS]]
| parking            = Yes
| website            = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} -->
| network            = 
| embedded           = {{Infobox building
  | embed = yes
| alternate_names     = Satyagraha Ashram
| building_type       = House
| architectural_style = European architecture
| years_built         = 19th century
| renovation_date     = 2024
| floor_count         = 2
| floor_area          = {{convert|5000|sqm}}
| designations        = 
| mapframe =no
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}}
'''Kochrab Ashram''', also known as '''Satyagraha Ashram''',<ref name=Chakraborty2024>{{Cite web |last=Chakraborty |first=Debdutta |date=12 March 2024 |title=Modi inaugurates redeveloped Kochrab Ashram in Gujarat, Gandhi's first home after returning to India |url=https://theprint.in/india/modi-inaugurates-redeveloped-kochrab-ashram-in-gujarat-gandhis-first-home-after-returning-to-india/1998165/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240813161014/https://theprint.in/india/modi-inaugurates-redeveloped-kochrab-ashram-in-gujarat-gandhis-first-home-after-returning-to-india/1998165/ |archive-date=13 August 2024 |access-date=2024-08-09 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref> is a [[historic site]] and [[museum]] in [[Ahmedabad]], [[Gujarat]], India. The [[ashram]] was the founded in May 1915 by [[Mahatma Gandhi]], leader of the [[Indian independence movement]]. For the next two years he lived  in the ashram with several other members of the movement. Some of his [[Gandhism|Gandhian ideas]] were conceived during that time. In 1953 the [[Bombay State]] named the ashram a memorial and tendered it to the [[Gujarat Vidyapith]] a year later. Its  renovation and redevelopment into a museum were completed in 2024.

The site includes a European style two-storey bungalow, a large garden, separate kitchen, and activity buildings. 

== History ==
[[Gopal Krishna Gokhale]] had requested Mahatma Gandhi return to India from [[South Africa]] to organise a community for the [[Swaraj|Swaraj movement]].<ref name=GSamachar2024/> When he did return In 1915, Gandhi planned to establish a shared living space to foster personal growth, self-reliance, and community service - an [[ashram]]. Many cities including Ahmedabad, [[Calcutta]], [[Rajkot]] and [[Haridwar]] invited him to build his ashram in their communities. During a visit in January 1915,  [[Hariprasad Desai]] and others persuaded Gandhi to choose Ahmedabad. According to Gandhi, as a Gujarati, he could better serve using his native language. A large [[Ahmedabad textile industry|textile industry]] and history of [[Loom|loom weaving]] would also help to revive the [[cottage industry]] of [[hand spinning]]. He also hoped for financial support from Ahmedabad's wealthy citizens.<ref name=Chakraborty2024/><ref name=GSamachar2024/><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Kochrab Ashram |url=http://heritage.ahmedabadcity.gov.in/details/116/heritage_site/all_heritages/en |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=AMC Heritage City |archive-date=13 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240813173921/http://heritage.ahmedabadcity.gov.in/details/116/heritage_site/all_heritages/en |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":3" /> On 11 May 1915, Gandhi gave a list of items required for the ashram to mill owner [[Mangaldas Girdhardas]], and estimated an annual expenditure of {{INR}}6000.<ref name=Guha>{{Cite book |last=Guha |first=Ramachandra |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iyJJDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA44 |title=Gandhi: The Years that Changed the World|chapter=1. The returning hero|page=44 |date=2019 |publisher=Penguin Random House India Private Limited |isbn=978-93-5305-259-1 |language=en |access-date=13 August 2024 |archive-date=17 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240817130918/https://books.google.com/books?id=iyJJDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA44 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In Ahmedabad, Gandhi resided with his friend, [[barrister]] Jivanlal Desai, with whom he had studied in London. Desai offered his "vacation-home", a [[Bungalow|bunglow]] in Kochrab village, then on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, for an annual rent of {{INR}}1 while Gandhi was founding the ashram.<ref name=Chakraborty2024/><ref name=GSamachar2024/><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last1=Mishra |first1=Leena |last2=Sharma |first2=Ritu |date=2024-03-17 |title=History Headline: Kochrab Ashram, where Gandhi became the Mahatma |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/history-headline-mahatma-gandhi-kochram-ashram-experiments-with-truth-9218623/ |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=The Indian Express |language=en |archive-date=27 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240427011459/https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/history-headline-mahatma-gandhi-kochram-ashram-experiments-with-truth-9218623/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Gandhi named it the "Satyagraha Ashram" to highlight ''[[satyagraha]]'', the approach of nonviolent resistance he had successfully employed in South Africa, and his intention to bring it to India. The ashram is commonly called Kochrab Ashram to avoid confusion with [[Sabarmati Ashram]].<ref name=GSamachar2024/><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=Guha/>  Other suggested names included Tapovan and Sevashram.<ref name=Guha/>

On 20 May 1915, Gandhi and his compatriots formally took over the bungalow and performed ''[[Grihapravesha|vastu puja]]''. They moved in on 22 May 1915, and formally established the ashram on 25 May 1915.<ref name=GSamachar2024>{{Cite web |last= |date=2016-08-15 |title=ગાંધીજીના પ્રથમ સ્થાપિત કોચરબ આશ્રમને સરકારી વાર્ષિક સહાય માત્ર રૂ. ૧,૮૦,૦૦૦ |url=https://www.gujarat-samachar.com/%E0%AA%B8%E0%AA%AE%E0%AA%BE%E0%AA%9A%E0%AA%BE%E0%AA%B0/%E0%AA%97%E0%AB%81%E0%AA%9C%E0%AA%B0%E0%AA%BE%E0%AA%A4/%E0%AA%97%E0%AA%BE%E0%AA%82%E0%AA%A7%E0%AB%80%E0%AA%9C%E0%AB%80%E0%AA%A8%E0%AA%BE-%E0%AA%AA%E0%AB%8D%E0%AA%B0%E0%AA%A5%E0%AA%AE-%E0%AA%B8%E0%AB%8D%E0%AA%A5%E0%AA%BE%E0%AA%AA%E0%AA%BF%E0%AA%A4-%E0%AA%95%E0%AB%8B%E0%AA%9A%E0%AA%B0 |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=Gujarat Samachar |language=gu-IN |archive-date=16 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220816213402/https://www.gujarat-samachar.com/%E0%AA%B8%E0%AA%AE%E0%AA%BE%E0%AA%9A%E0%AA%BE%E0%AA%B0/%E0%AA%97%E0%AB%81%E0%AA%9C%E0%AA%B0%E0%AA%BE%E0%AA%A4/%E0%AA%97%E0%AA%BE%E0%AA%82%E0%AA%A7%E0%AB%80%E0%AA%9C%E0%AB%80%E0%AA%A8%E0%AA%BE-%E0%AA%AA%E0%AB%8D%E0%AA%B0%E0%AA%A5%E0%AA%AE-%E0%AA%B8%E0%AB%8D%E0%AA%A5%E0%AA%BE%E0%AA%AA%E0%AA%BF%E0%AA%A4-%E0%AA%95%E0%AB%8B%E0%AA%9A%E0%AA%B0 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=Chakraborty2024/><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=Guha/> Initially it housed about 25 men and women, including 13 [[Tamils]] who had returned from South Africa.<ref name=GSamachar2024/><ref name=":3" /> [[Maganlal Gandhi]] was an initial member. Mahatma Gandhi created rules and observances for members of the ashram.<ref name=Chakraborty2024/> Several Gandhian ideas, including the use of [[khadi]] and self-reliance, were implemented during his stay.<ref name=Chakraborty2024/> He urged members to practice celibacy, engage in physical labour and wear [[Swadeshi movement|swadeshi]] clothes. The membership increased to about 100, including [[Vinoba Bhave]] and [[Kaka Kalelkar]].<ref name=":3" />

Gandhi's admitting of a [[Dalit]] family in September 1915 caused a controversy among the members and the cessation of donations. Gandhi stood firm in his decision and was anonymously helped by [[Ambalal Sarabhai]] who donated {{INR}}13,000, saving the ashram from closing.<ref name=Chakraborty2024/> During an [[Third plague pandemic|outbreak of plague]], Gandhi noted the risk to the ashram's children and had them moved to a new ashram a safe distance from the city. Gandhi and other members moved to the new Sabarmati Ashram on 17 June 1917.<ref name=Chakraborty2024/><ref name=GSamachar2024/><ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Mahatma Gandhi Ashram at Sabarmati, Ahmedabad, Gujarat |url=https://www.gandhiashramsabarmati.org/en/ |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=www.gandhiashramsabarmati.org |language=en-gb |archive-date=2 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240602093811/https://www.gandhiashramsabarmati.org/en/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 4 October 1953, then [[List of chief ministers of Maharashtra|Chief Minister of Bombay State]] [[Morarji Desai]] declared the ashram a memorial.  In 1954, the management was transferred to [[Gujarat Vidyapith]] where Desai was chancellor. The ashram is still owned by the state.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=GSamachar2024/> The [[2001 Gujarat earthquake]] damaged the structure which was repaired with government funds. The damaged [[Kota Stone|Kota stone]] floor in Gandhi's room was replaced with new polished stone.<ref name=":3" /> Later, the ashram lost about 15-30 feet of land from its front side for expansion of the [[Ashram Road]] in exchange for the land granted at the back.<ref name=":3" />

Architect Snehal Shah and Poonam Trambadia managed a renovation and redevelopment from 2019 to 2024. The redeveloped ashram was inaugurated by Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]] on 12 March 2024, the 94th anniversary of the [[Salt March|Dandi March]].<ref name=Chakraborty2024/>

== Architecture and features ==
The ashram spreads over {{convert|5000|sqm}}<ref name=":3" /> and has a European-style bungalow with a large garden. The two-storey structure, with a dozen rooms and a tile roof,<ref name="Guha" /> has thick walls covered with limestone; the wooden ceiling is supported by wooden pillars.<ref name=":3" /> Gandhi, [[Kasturba Gandhi|Kasturba]], and other members used the ground floor rooms. There are bathrooms and a storeroom, surrounded by a [[veranda]]. The first floor features a low-seating conference room, a library and a large balcony where a brass bell was used to alert the members of the ashram of scheduled activities. The top floor is wooden and  is reached by a wooden staircase.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=Chakraborty2024/>

A writing desk, [[Charkha (spinning wheel)|charkha]], photographs and documents associated with Mahatma Gandhi are displayed. A series of wall panels featuring quotes from his autobiography, ''[[The Story of My Experiments with Truth]]'', narrate the history of the compound.<ref name="Chakraborty2024" /><ref name=":2" /> There are also large portraits of Gandhi, Kasturba and some Gandhi influences, [[Leo Tolstoy]], [[Shrimad Rajchandra]] and [[John Ruskin]].<ref name=":2" /> 

The kitchen is located in the building's rear and consists of a single floor with a tiled roof, a storeroom, toilets and bathrooms. ''Panch Ordio'', “five rooms,” is an elongated building which was utilized for a variety of activities, including weaving and carpentry.<ref name=":3" />

The modern Activities Centre was built in 2024 and has around 10 rooms (four air-conditioned) on the top floor. The rooms are named after various past members of the ashram.<ref name=":3" /> There is a book and souvenir shop for visitors.<ref name=Chakraborty2024/><ref name=":2" /> In 2015, 19,500 people toured the ashram.<ref name=GSamachar2024/>

==See also==
* [[Kaba Gandhi No Delo]]
* [[Tolstoy Farm]]
* [[Sevagram]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Mohandas K. Gandhi}}
{{Ahmedabad topics}}

[[Category:Ashrams]]
[[Category:1915 establishments in India]]
[[Category:1953 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Mahatma Gandhi]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Ahmedabad]]
[[Category:Houses in India]]
[[Category:Gandhi museums]]
[[Category:Museums in Gujarat]]
[[Category:Gujarat in Indian independence movement]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Ahmedabad]]