January 30 2024



76th Anniversary  of Mahatma Gandhi’s martyrdom






 Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan observed  76th Anniversary  of Mahatma Gandhi’s martyrdom on 30 January 2024 at Sevagram Ashram premises with a number of programmes. At  5.45 am a padyatra was organized  from Nai Talim Samiti (Ghanti Ghar) to Bapu Kuti  with Ramdhun.  It was followed by  Sarva Dharma Prarthana in front of Bapu Kuti at 6 am  with the participation of  Ashram community and others  . Both these programmes were coordinated  by Ms. Shobhatai Kawadkar and   Shri Namdev Dhole .  After prayer,  all joined in the cleanliness activity in the premises of the ashram and both sides of the roads adjoining the ashram. Around 10 am  a padayatra which started from  Gandhi  statue  reached the ashram premises . 








 Before the commencement of public meeting all those who have assembled at the premises of Bapu kuti paid tributes to Martyrs by observing silence for two minutes at 11.00 am. The students of Anand Niketan School ,Sevagram  recited two devotional songs ‘Vaishnava Janato’  and ‘Hey Namrata ke Sagar’ which set in motion the programme. Shri  Vijay Tambe,  Secretary of  Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan,   gave a brief introduction of the programme and gave highlights of  contributions made by the keynote  speaker.   He succinctly described the multifaceted personality of  Shri Ashok  Vajpeyi who   was a   former  servant  civil servant and Chairman of Lalit Kala Akademi and the first Vice Chancellor  of Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya and recipient of  Shatiya Akademi Award for his poetry collection.  Smt Ashaben Bothra, President  of  Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan   welcomed the keynote speaker by giving Khadi shawl and a Charkha. 







Shri Ashok  Vajpeyi in his  keynote address lamented that we are far away from Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi is not a person. It is  the name of the best thought. Gandhi was not talking about personal salvation. He was concerned about collective freedom. The speaker stated that for the last 11 years he  has not watched television. Violence, untruth are  spreading through it. Constitutional bodies are  disempowered   Election Commission,  Court  etc.  Democracy is  in danger. Prayer meetings are a lasting contribution of Gandhi . Sarva Dharma Samabhava is in danger. Violence is spreading everywhere…If are not remembering  Gandhi something is lacking in us. In Sevagram, community  prayer is happening .Nowhere else it is happening.   He highlighted the contribution of Gandhi on the following points: 1. Purity  of Ends and Means 2.Noncoperation without violence 3. Adherence to Truth 4.Civil Disobedience 5.Vision of Swaraj 6.Self introspection/ Self refinement 7.Sarva Dharma Samabhava 8. Personal Salvation to Collective Freedom 9.Prayer Meetings. Gandhiji was sensitive to the feelings of others. But today no one respects anyone's feelings and thinks only about his own interests and selfishness.  





Shri Chandan Pal,   President of Sarva Seva Sangh  stated in his address  that  great thoughts Vajpayee ji put before us today. There is a great need to implement  those  in our lives. Smt . Ashaben  Bothra in her presidential address stated  that there is a need to understand Gandhiji  deeply. There are some traditions which have to be broken as per the times. If we continue to follow traditions, we will not be able to move forward. Because of  that  the future generations will blame us. Smt. Jayshreetai Patil, and Smt . Gangubai Surpam  representing the ashram  community shared the dais. Smt . Rupali Ugale conducted the programme  and Smt. Sangita Chavhan proposed a vote of thanks

 As a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, a continuous spinning programme was  held in the veranda of Bapukuti from 6.00 am to 5.30 pm. Thereafter, community spinning was held at the prayer ground followed by interreligious prayer of the ashram at 6pm. About 26 members from the Ashram and other affiliated organizations participated in the spinning and a total of  thirty five thousand meters of yarn was received as offering . It was announced by Shri Siddeshwar Umarkar, Office Secretary  of the Ashram at the evening prayer. All the members , staff and management  of  the Ashram Pratishthan, Nai Talim Samiti, teachers and students of  Anand Niketan Vidyalaya  contributed towards the success of the entire program.




                                  


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