To mark the birth anniversary of the father of the nation
Mahatma Gandhi on October 2, a host of programmes are being organised in the city. On the occasion which is also observed as the International Day of Non-violence,
Kochrab Ashram
will host a charkha spinning session from 6 pm to 7 pm. It will be followed by a talk on Gandhian philosophy by three eminent speakers including Gandhi's 95-year-old grand daughter Usha Gokani and author Gunvant Shah.
The premises was gifted to Mahatma Gandhi by his barrister Gujarati friend Jivanlal Desai when he returned from South Africa in 1915. Kochrab Ashram also known as Satyagrah Ashram was also the first to be organised by Mahatma Gandhi. Two years later, he shifted to Sabarmati Ashram following the outbreak of plague. "Kochrab Ashram which is managed by the Gujarat Vidyapith witnesses 600 to 700 visitors per month," says Deenbahadur Kshatriya, one of its caretaker since 2003.
Shailesh Divan, 80, the maternal grandson of Desai, informed, “Several programmes have been organised on the birth anniversary of the man who sought equality and justice for all. He was also the one who led several labour and peasant movements including the one for Ahmedabad textile workers’ rights. To mark
Gandhi Jayanti, a kit distribution programme for labourers have been organized at the Kochrab Ashram from 10 am to 11.30 am.”
The kit will comprise daily commodities like cereals, pulses, oil, salt and jaggery among others. “Around 50 people from Sola will be given the kit at the Ashram on Tuesday,” Divan, whose father Dr Vajendra Pranlal was the first student of
Divan Ballubhai
school, said.
Vajendra’s uncle Jeevanlal Hariprasad Divan, who was a government teacher, had participated in the Dandi Yatra and apprehending that Britishers can seize the property, founded a public trust. The trust has been operating the Divan Ballubhai School since then.
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