Visit to Sevagram

"My Life is My Message" - M. K. Gandhi

Date: 14 November 2014

Criteria of CAS – Serivce

Approximate time - 8 hours

Venue – Sevagram, Maharashtra, India

Our CAS Coordinator giving information during the journey

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi born on 2^nd October 1869, is known for the independence movement he started in India and inspired the whole world with his nonviolent civil disobedience. In his childhood he got very inspired from the play of truthful king Harishchandra and his whole life he followed the path of truth.

Gandhi was a true idol in field of service. Our CAS coordinator thought to learn this art of service we should go to Sevagram. We planned the whole activity. Plan was to go to Sevagram and Vinoba Bhave's ashram. First we went Sevagram.

In 1930 Gandhi started his padhyatra from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi, he decided not to return Sabarmati till India achieve independence. After his release from two years imprisonment Gandhi decided to make a village in Central India as his headquarters. In 1936 Gandhi established his residence in the village Shegaon which he renamed Sevagram “village of service”. After that Sevagram became an inspiring place as this village represents simple living. We planned the trip to see Gandhi’s legacy and learn art of simple living. It was 2 hours’ drive to Sevagram from Nagpur. When we reached there, we went to see Bapu’s cottage. The seven social sins have been engraved at the entrance gate of this cottage.

Politics without Principles

Wealth without Work

Commerce without Morality

Education without Character

Pleasure without Conscience

Science without Humanity

Worship without Sacrifice

There was a lady there who taught us who use spinning wheel (charkha in hindi). Charkha or spinning wheel is used to make thread out of cotton, Gandhi used this to make his own cloths. Gandhi lived on methods by which a man can learn to be independent. Like farming, sewing your own clothes, cooking and other arts. Then we went to Kasturba Gandhi’s cottage. She supported Gandhi in moment of life, whether it was the independence movement or being imprisoned for two years in Agakhan Palace, Poona.  In the cottage things which are displayed are Ba's Sari, Bapu's bed-sheet, jacket, Ba's seat, hold-all, Bapu's jute (shoes) Dari which have been kept in a simple wooden rack. Everything there represents simple living.

Then we went to The Last Residence

 This cottage which is modern than other cottages and situated near the Ba-Kuti, was built by Jamnalal Bajaj for himself and lived here for a short while. Later this cottage was used by the Ashram. In 1946, Bapu had a severe attack of cough and came up to live in this cottage under doctor's advice to cure his cough. He was taking a Sun-bath in the eastern varandah of this cottage.

On August 25, 1946, Gandhiji left for Delhi from this Cottage and then went to Noakhali. From there he did not return to Sewagram while engaged in his task of communal unity and peace making. He was martyred in Delhi on January 30, 1948. Bapu's wooden weight instrument and donation box are kept on the varandah of this cottage.

Then we went Vinoba Bhave's ashram. Vinayak Narahari "Vinoba" Bhave was an Indian advocate of nonviolence and human rights. Often called Acharya (Sanskrit for teacher), he is best known for the Bhoodan Movement. He is considered as a National Teacher of India and the spiritual successor of Mohandas Gandhi.

By this activity I have understood some ethical implication.