Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan, Wardha

  Beyond Atheism   Vijay Tambe  An Atheist Conference was recently held at Sevagram. The organizers gave me the opportunity to share my thoughts there. At that time, I briefly presented five to seven points; here, I am elaborating on them. By choosing Gandhiji’s Sevagram premises for the atheist conference, we have acknowledged that one need not be an atheist to fight for the rights of the downtrodden and exploited, to be prepared to risk one's life for the dignity of minorities, or to demand total equality. Gandhiji believed in God absolutely. He first equated God with Truth and later equated Truth with God. Even knowing that I might never fully grasp Truth, I would endure any hardship in the pursuit of it. The reason being that through this process, I would gain an increasingly clear vision of conscience and become more complete, elevated, and pure. Such was his God—Truth. There is no yardstick, measurement, or scientific basis to gauge the clarity of one's con...

Discussion on US-Iran Relations and Prospects for Peace On June 28, 2026, Dr. Siby K. Joseph, Director of the Library and Research Centre at Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan, Wardha, participated in a panel discussion titled "The US and Iran: Prospects for Peace." During the session, Dr. Siby Joseph shared insights on the current situation in Lebanon, highlighting the recent Israel-Lebanon agreement. Drawing on Gandhian philosophy, he cited Mahatma Gandhi's firm stance that America should cease manufacturing atomic bombs, emphasizing that bad means can never justify good ends. He further argued that any military action against Iran violates the United Nations Charter and amounts to war crimes—a position also endorsed by several legal experts within the United States. The discussion was facilitated by Dr. Michael Sonnleitner, formerly of Portland Community College, USA. The event was organized by the Peace Foundation, Germany, as part of their ongoing series, "Nonviolence ...

Mumbai-based Journalist and Author Rajni Bakshi Visits Sevagram Ashram   Ms . Rajni Bakshi—prominent Mumbai-based journalist, public speaker, founder of the online platform Ahimsa Conversations , and author of the acclaimed 1998 book Bapu Kuti: Journeys in Rediscovery of Gandhi —visited the Library and Research Centre of Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan on June 19, 2026.She had the unique opportunity to address the International Fellowship   Program on Nonviolence and Peace  (IFPNP) of  the ashram in one of the batches.  During her visit, the centre’s director  Dr. Siby K. Joseph  briefed Ms. Bakshi on both their residential and online programmes.. Furthermore, she was introduced to the library's extensive physical book collection as well as its rare archival and digital repositories. The visit was facilitated by Ms. Shubhangini Vairagade of the library staff. Concluding her visit, Ms. Bakshi generously offered her services and expertise to support th...

Official Visit of Government Delegations to Sevagram Ashram ahead of 3rd BRICS Transport Working Group Meeting     A high-level group of government officials representing various departments and ministries visited Sevagram Ashram on June 18, 2026. This preparatory visit was organized in connection with the upcoming 3rd BRICS Transport Working Group Meeting, scheduled to take place in Nagpur, Maharashtra, from July 9 to 12, 2026.  On behalf of the Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan, Dr Siby K.Joseph warmly welcomed the visiting officials. During their tour of the ashram's heritage buildings, Dr  Siby Joseph briefed the group on their deep historical significance, detailing how these iconic structures are intimately connected to India's struggle for freedom and the various socio-economic initiatives launched by Mahatma Gandhi from this historic site.  The officials then proceeded to the Ashram Library and Research Centre. There, they viewed a brief, historical video pres...

Shri  Ramesh Chandra Kaithal and Er. Rajendra Prasad working on a book  project on Jaglal Choudhari came to  Sevagram Ashram on June 17,2026 in search of  archival materials . During their stay in the Ashram, they visited Library and Research Centre of Sevagram Ashram  and held discussions with Dr.Siby K. Joseph.   

  The Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan in Wardha paid rich tributes to Mahatma Gandhi on June 7, 2026, marking the 133rd anniversary of the Pietermaritzburg Railway incident. Since its inception, the Ashram's Library and Research Centre for Gandhian Studies has been instrumental in organising both offline and online programmes, including international webinars dedicated to this historic event. For this occasion, the Centre shared its rich collection of resources—including a short film and archival materials—with various organisations and institutions interested in hosting commemorative events. In an online session, Dr. Siby K. Joseph explored the transformative impact of the Pietermaritzburg railway station incident on the life and work of a young Mohandas, describing it as the foundational moment of Gandhi's philosophy of non-violent resistance. Dr. Joseph emphasised that the enduring lesson from Pietermaritzburg is clear: discrimination of any kind, on any basis, and at any level ...