Post Doctoral Dissertation on Sevagram Ashram

Sevagram Ashram as a Peace Laboratory (A Case Study)

Researcher : Dr. Prince Kumar Singh

Research Supervisor : Dr. Rakesh Kumar Mishra

Department of Gandhi and Peace Studies,Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya, Wardha

February 2026

Dr.Prince Kumar Singh presenting a copy of his Post Doctoral Dissertation  to Dr.Siby K.  Joseph ,Director of Library and Research of Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan Wardha 

This post-doctoral dissertation analyzes the establishment, objectives, and operational dynamics of Sevagram Ashram, conceptualized here as a "peace laboratory." While modern peace laboratories are typically viewed through Western scientific frameworks focused on "positive peace" and sustainable development, Mahatma Gandhi established Sevagram as a vibrant, indigenous precursor to this model. Grounded in Indian philosophical and cultural values, Gandhi transformed the Ashram into an active crucible for ideas, where the theories of Satyagraha and non-violence were continuously tested, refined, and applied.

As Gandhi’s final and most mature communal experiment, Sevagram served as a site for developing grassroots solutions to systemic challenges, including public health, sanitation, basic education (Nai Talim), economic self-reliance, and social equality. Gandhi posited that these localized experiments could serve as scalable models for national crises—such as communalism, poverty, and political instability—facilitating a trajectory from individual restraint to community harmony and national independence.

A survey of existing literature reveals that while Gandhi’s leadership and spirituality are well-documented, systematic studies of his ashrams as practical centers for "positive peace" remain sparse. This research addresses that lacuna by illustrating how Sevagram functioned as a living laboratory. Through the integration of Khadi, village industries, the abolition of untouchability, and the Ekadashi Vrats (Eleven Vows), Gandhi demonstrated that positive peace and self-reliance could be scientifically tested and evolved into universal models for global peace-building.

Dissertation Structure

Chapter I: Introduction

This chapter establishes the theoretical and technical aspects of the study. It includes a comprehensive literature review, the identification of research gaps, and the formulation of core research questions and objectives.

Chapter II: The Establishment of Sevagram Ashram

This chapter investigates the foundational philosophy and physical establishment of Sevagram. It is structured into three thematic sub-sections: "Gandhi’s Conceptualization of the Ashram," "The Establishment and Objectives of Sevagram," and "Sevagram: A Living Praxis."

Chapter III: The Constructive Programme

Chapter III provides an examination of the Constructive Programme as the operational backbone of Gandhi’s vision. It explores the philosophical foundations, ethical values, and social objectives inherent in these programs.

Chapter IV: Experiments at Sevagram

This chapter presents Sevagram as a vibrant field of application, providing a systematic account of Gandhi’s multifaceted experiments in social and economic engineering.

Chapter V: Evaluating Sevagram through the Peace Laboratory Framework

The penultimate chapter systematically analyzes Sevagram against the criteria of a modern "Peace Laboratory," bridging historical practice with contemporary Peace Studies.

Chapter VI: Conclusion

The final chapter synthesizes the research findings, offering a definitive resolution to the study’s central inquiry. It concludes that Sevagram Ashram represents the most vivid, practical reflection of Gandhi’s principles of Ahimsa (non-violence), Swadeshi (self-reliance), and Sarvodaya (social justice). It establishes that Sevagram was not merely a site of historical events, but a continuous experiment in living. Amidst modern challenges—from environmental degradation to systemic inequality—this study underscores that Sevagram’s vision provides a scalable, ethical framework that remains essential for a non-violent and just social order.

Note:

The post  dissertation is  archived in the Sri Jamnalal Bajaj Memorial Library and Research Centre for Gandhian Studies of Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan, Wardha,  Maharashtra