Ahmedabad and Sabarmati Ashram

Jan 4, 2014

It is so nice to be I the same hotel for more than one or two nights.

On Sunday, 1/4 we visited the Sabarmati Ashram, so named for the river on which it resides. Here Gandhi lived for 17 years. He always made a point of inviting a family from the untouchable caste to make up part of the group living at the Ashram. Neighbors gave great resistance, but over time, he won their support. They all lived and worked as equals there. 

It was at this time he was spinning regularly, making his own cloth, and clothes. He required others to do the same, to help prevent dependence on English clothes. The white homespun cotton became the norm among Gandhians. Watching Arun sit and spin here was a treat. He immediately got into a meditative state and invited us to go look around on our own. Other tourists were pinching themselves when they realized who was there. 

On the property of the Ashram includes the original buildings, although they have been restored in a way that will last much longer than the originals. There is a museum (and gift shop!) and an non profit, Manav Sadhna, which is assisting children of the untouchable caste through education, housing and love. The serve over 8000 children and women through more than 35 projects. We met some of the children and they always steal my heart.

Also on the Ashram property is a sanitation project. This team of volunteer engineers have created toilet facilities that can be used in a variety of circumstances: urban, mountainous, water-filled, clay... They also designed a system which converts the waste from 7 toilets into a gas that heats the water for their morning tea and other cooking needs. It was the cleanest place I have been.

This was the place of morning prayers. I sat in the sandy ground for a restorative 20 minutes of my own reflection. It was very powerful.

The museum had copies of his hand written letters and other documents. His grandson comments that he had terrible handwriting.

Logo was designed by Tushar Gandhi. It includes all religions.

The tree of life!

The western style toilets are behind our lunch cooks. of course we all contributed something!

can you figure out the chart, how to turn waste into usable Gas?

memo sang a couple of songs for us about kindness and gratitude. brought me to tears.

Elephants raise money for their keep. Took our rupee offering with his trunk.