“ Understanding Gandhi ” Orientation Programme for Social Activists

Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan in association with Gandhian Collective Kerala organized the orientation programme “Understanding Gandhi '' from 8 to 11 November 2023. The course was coordinated by Sri Jamnalal Bajaj Memorial Library and Research Centre for Gandhian Studies (JBMLRCGS), Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan, Wardha. Gandhian Colletive, Kerala is a part of national network Gandhian Colletive India. The participants before starting their journey to Sevagram Ashram visited Sabari Ashram an iconic place of fight against untouchablity where Mahatma Gandhi stayed three times when he came to Kerala. The participants reached the premises of Sevagram ashram in the evening of November 8, 2023. Dr. Siby K. Joseph, Director, JBMLRCGS welcomed the participants to the Ashram.

They participated in the evening prayer and had a brief interaction with Smt. Ashaben Bothra, President of Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan and Shri TRN Prabhu Trustee. The President of the Ashram gave her all best wishes for the training programme . Later they were briefed about the programme.

On November 9,the morning session was devoted to introduce history and significance of the Ashram and its contemporary relevance. The participants were given a guided visit to ashram and nai talim premises. They also visited Sevagram village where Dr. B. R.Ambedkar addressed the villagers after meeting with Gandhi

In the afternoon they assembled at the Seminar hall of Library and Research Centre premises. Shri Chandan Pal, President of Sarva Seva Sangh guided the first session in the afternoon. He discussed his experience in the Kokrajhar peace mission in Assam and discussed the significance of Gandhi’s approach to communal harmony in the present-day society. He also shed light on the systematic attempt to erase the Gandhian legacy in the country and destruction of heritage buildings of Sarva Seva Sangh , Varanasi . Shri TRN Prabhu, former President of Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan was keynote speaker in the next session. He continued the discussion initiated by the former speaker and explained the significance of Gandhian ideas and ideals in the contemporary society. He discussed a number of questions raised by the participants. The session continued up to the evening prayer. In the evening after dinner a sharing session was organized at the premises of the library and research centre followed by the screening of the documentary on Mahatma Gandhi.

On November 10 morning, the participants assembled at the Seminar Hall of Library and Research Centre to see the documentary on Mahatma Gandhi . Soon after seeing the documentary the participants visited important historical places associated with Gandhi and constructive activities in Wardha . The first place of the visit was Maganvadi where Gandhi started the All India Village Industries Association. It was followed by a visit to Gosamwardhan Goras Bhandar started by Jamnalal Bajaj in 1939. The participants felt that the bakery unit of the Gorus Bhandar is a model to be emulated. The next point of their visit was Magan Sangrahalaya Khadi and village industries exhibition started by Mahatma Gandhi himself in 1938. J. C. Kumarappa’s hut and organic Khadi unit were the main attractions in Maganwadi premises.

After lunch the participants visited Gita Mandir, Buddhist temple, Peace Pagoda and exhibitions of Jamnalal Bajaj and Acharya Vinoba Bhave. The next destination was Acharya Vinoba Bhave’s ashram at Paunar-Brahma Vidya Mandir. They also paid tributes to Gandhi and Vinoba by visiting the place where their ashes were immersed in river Dham. Last destination of the visit was Charkha Griha of Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan. In the evening after prayer, they visited Friday market of Sevagram village.

On 11 November early morning Gram Darshan programme was organized to get first hand information about Sevagram village. The villagers freely interacted with the participants despite the difficulty in communication. It helped them understand the culture and life of the villagers.

After breakfast participants assembled at the Seminar hall to share and evaluate their experience and learning through the orientation programme. It was followed by a Valedictory session in which Certificates of appreciation were issued to the participants . Shri Sunny Paikada, Dr. Siby K. Joseph and Shri Climus spoke on the occasion. Shri K. Radhakrishnan , former Mayor of Thrissur distributed the certificate of appreciation.

Afternoon was devoted to the purchase of Khadi products. A special Shramdaan activity was organized from 5 to 6 pm for cleaning the roads in the ashram premises. The participants' return journey was on the morning of November 12. The participants were full of deep appreciation about the porogramme and that was reflected in their detailed report of the programme. The detailed report of 5 days shared in the social media prepared by Shri Narayanan Oyolam and reflections of Dr. Kodakad Narayan Master seralised in a newspaper were highly appreciated by all. Total number of participants was 18.