Open Doors not Walls

Relevance: Gandhian Values

Synopsis: It is not enough to protect the precincts of Sabarmati Ashram, we must go beyond that. Adopting the Gandhian way of building a mutually nurturing society, should be the aim.

Introduction:

The Mahatma Gandhi Ashram at Sabarmati has always attracted universal respect in India and outside. It has received and welcomed a wide range of individuals.

Significance of Sabarmati ashram:

1. The Ashram is where our history of achieving freedom for millions with non-violent means was made. It is where we experimented with a future way of living.
2. The Ashram inspired satyagraha and carved pathways to peace.
3. It is our common and shared responsibility to protect, preserve and promote.

Along with the sanctity of the ashram, India needs to preserve the simplicity, logic, and spirit of Gandhiji’s ideas and values.

What should be done to preserve the sanctity of the ashram?

Any change to the Ashram should be made with consensus, collaboration with each other. Also, the suggestions and protest letters about the redevelopment plan are most valuable to continue this open and peaceful process to achieve a consensus.

Hence, we can say, Gandhi Ashrams will not work for the betterment of India’s society if they are not aligned to the Gandhi way.

What is the Gandhian way?

First, we should conceive of Gandhi as a way of thinking about our society, economy, and politics. The Gandhi way is self-reliance at the local level and full employment at the household level.

Second, Non-violence has been a force of its own that is connected with wider day-to-day political, social, and economic struggles for the freedom of the poor and women workers.

Third, it is a way towards sustainability and a near-zero carbon footprint. It implies local ownership of the means of production.

Fourth, it calls for a broad-based and inclusive social and economic democracy. The Gandhi way is to build peace at home, in the neighborhood, and in the world in which dalits, minorities, Adivasis, women, and workers have a leading role to play.

Conclusion:

As a society, we are rushing towards mass suicide, with investments that lead to no jobs, and infrastructure that pollutes air, food, and water. The ashrams should take the economy and the citizens to self-reliance, to full and meaningful employment, to sustainability, and to local cooperative control of the means of production.