February 22, 2024

 

Matru Diwas 
80 th Anniversary  of Kasturba Gandhi's  Demise

Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan observed the 80 th Anniversary  of Kasturba Gandhi's  demise on 22 February 2024 as Matru Diwas  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 Ba Kuti at 6 am  with the participation of  Ashram community and others. Participants  of the Orientation Programme for social activists  organised  by Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan in association with Gandhian Collective also participated in the programme from early morning itself .  After prayer,  all joined in the cleanliness activity in the premises of the ashram and both sides of the roads adjoining the ashram. 

A public meeting  was organized at the Seminar hall of Yatri Niwas of  Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan at 3.00  pm. The programme began with bhajan  of  Matruvandana led by Shri Jalandarnath.   Adv. Trupti Zilape, coordinator of Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan, gave a brief introduction about the programme  and the importance of observing matru diwas as a tribute to Kasturba Gandhi. She succinctly introduced the resource persons .The  Keynote Speaker of the programme  was  Mrs. Anuradha Mohoni, noted writer and social activist. In her address, she stated that Kasturba is often depicted as wife of Mahatma Gandhi  and not as an independent personality. In  the rest of the address, she shed light on the life and contributions of Kasturba Gandhi and the unique personality of Kasturba Gandhi. Kasturba was part and parcel of satyagraha struggles, wholeheartedly become a partner brahmacharya experiment, played an important role in ashrams starting from South African days and she was Bapu Aga Khan palace during the imprisonment in connection with Quit India Movement . The character and life of Kasturba Gandhi  is a model to be emulated.

 While  addressing the public meeting Mrs. Priyanka Kardile ,Deputy Collector of Wardha said  her grandfather participated in  Mahatma  Gandhi's movement and courted imprisonment and considered it a privilege to address this  gathering . She was happy to see the participants from Kerala in the meeting  who were   carefully listening and taking notes.   She said Kerala  has the highest human development index  and we have to learn from their experience.  Bapu had given equal respect to women.  While discussing empowerment of women, she reminded the audience about the  great responsibility of women folk.  She reflected on education, health, socio economic aspects of empowerment and gender equality . Mrs Sujata Taksande, Sarpanch  of Sevagram  in her address stated that behind every successful man there is a woman . In the case of Mahatma Gandhi it was Kasturba.  Kasturba Gandhi contributed a lot in the making of Mahatma. Mrs. Madhuri Chambhare conducted the programme  and  Mrs. Deepali Umarkar proposed a vote of thanks.

As a tribute to Kasturba Gandhi, community spinning was organized at the prayer ground from 5.30 pm to 6 pm. It was followed by evening prayer at the Ashram.