Renowned environmentalist and son of famous scientist Vikram Sarabhai, Kartikeya Sarabhai is appointed as Chairman of the Sabarmati Ashram Preservation and Memorial Trust (SAPMT) after the demise of Ela Bhatt.
The Sabarmati Ashram is managed by the Sabarmati Ashram Preservation and Memorial Trust (SAPMT). Ela Bhatt was the chairperson of the trust until she passed away on 2nd November. She served as the chairperson of the Sabarmati Trust from July 2014. A unanimous resolution was passed to appoint Karthikeya Sarabhai as the SAPMT Chairman. Sarabhai has been the Chairman and Trustee of the Standing Committee of SAPMT since 1974.
Kartikeya Sarabhai comes from the illustrious Sarabhai family of Ahmedabad. Immensely rich thanks to the glory during the “Manchester of India” days of Ahmedabad, the Sarabhai family has been in the forefront of public life in the fields of the freedom movement, women empowerment, art, culture and science.
Vikram Sarabhai was a world-renowned scientist and a formidable institution builder who set up PRL and IIM to name just a few. Mrinalini Sarabhai, his Malayalee wife was an extra-ordinary exponent of the Indian classical dance Bharat Natyam. Her legacy is carried forward by feisty Mallika Sarabhai at Darpan Academy set up by Mrinalini.
Presently the Sabarmati Ashram has a visitor area spread over 3 acres which houses the Hridayakunj which was the residence of Mahatma Gandhi from 1917 to 1930. The area also houses a museum designed by renowned architect Charles Correa.
The Central Government and the Gujarat Government are currently reconstructing the Sabarmati Ashram. The cost of reconstruction of this 55-acre area of the ashram is estimated to be around 1,200 crores.
Ela Bhatt, when she was the trustee of the ashram, gave her consent for the reconstruction work of the ashram. The Government has assured that the work of reconstruction of the Ashram will be carried out in keeping with the consensus of all and Gandhiji’s values of austerity.
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