Several famous personalities and advocates of free speech, including historian Ramchandra Guha, musician TM Krishna, Admiral (retd) Laxminarayan Ramdas, former top cop Julio Ribeiro, writer P Sainath and activist Teesta Setalvad have opposed the Modi government's plan to “develop” the Gandhi Ashram in Ahmedabad, claiming that it will harm its sanctity. The government’s move to develop the ashram, popularly known as Sabarmati Ashram, was “an attempt to take over Gandhian institutions”, they said in a statement.
Among around 125 signatories to the statement were Gujarati writer Prakash Shah, historians Rajmohan Gandhi and Guha, musician Krishna, retired high court judge A P Shah, former IAS officer Sharad Behar, senior lawyer Anand Grover and activists Harsh Mander and Shabnam Hashmi. The Gandhi Ashram, on the banks of Sabarmati River, was Mahatma Gandhi’s residence between 1917 and 1930 as he led the freedom struggle. It is now managed by the Sabarmati Ashram Preservation and Memorial Trust.
“We must collectively oppose any government takeover of Gandhian institutions while ensuring that the government continues to use public money for the proper maintenance and upkeep of such institutions in consultation with eminent Gandhians, historians and archivists from India and around the world,” the statement said.
“The present government is all set to reclaim the visual wholesomeness, tranquility and uncluttered environment of 1949 and make it a tourist destination spread. It has announced a budget of Rs 1,200 crore for Gandhi Ashram Memorial and Precinct Development Project,” the statement said.
“There will be new museums, an amphitheater, VIP lounge, shops, food court among other things in the newly created memorial as per the newspaper reports. Reports say that the project will be under the direct supervision of the prime minister and the chief minister of Gujarat,” the statement said.
The plan “severely compromises and trivialises the sanctity and importance of the present-day Ashram and the simplicity of the Ashram will be completely lost,” the liberals argued.
Hriday Kunj, the hut where Gandhi lived with his wife Kasturba, and other historical buildings inside the Ashram will be “pushed into a corner” after the redevelopment, they alleged.
The Ashram attracts visitors from across the world and there was no need for a make-over, the free speech advocates argued, adding that “the most authentic monument of Gandhi and our freedom struggle will be lost forever to vanity and commercialization” if the project went through.
