In what practitioners and believers of Gandhian philosophy describe as a sad, painful decision, the Supreme Court on Tuesday (April 1) dismissed a petition filed by Tushar Gandhi, great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, challenging the Gujarat BJP government’s decision to revamp and redevelop the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad. The project has been handed over to Bimal Patel, the same architect who “revamped” and replaced the glorious parliament building of India. The new Sabarmati ashram in Ahmedabad will be redeveloped at a staggering cost of about Rs 1200 crores.
A bench comprising Justice MM Sundresh and Justice Rajesh Bindal dismissed the Special Leave Petition filed by Tushar Gandh. Tushar Gandhi had challenged the decision of The Gujarat High Court which had earlier dismissed his petition.
The bench cited the long delay of nearly 2.5 years in filing the petition to dismiss it. Tushar Gandhi like most believers of Gandhian philosophy has been contending that the so called revamp or redevelopment of the Ahmedabad based Sabarmati Ashram from where Mahatma Gandhi conducted his Freedom movement for India was a betrayal of Gandhian legacy. Gandhi believed in simplicity and the way this ashram is being projected in the new redevelopment plan contradicts the basic philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi, Gandhians had stated.
“The proposed project will alter the topography of the century-old ashram to the tune of Rs.1,200-crore and corrupt its ethos. The project has purportedly identified over 40 congruent buildings which will be preserved while the rest of them, roughly 200, will be destroyed or rebuilt”, Tushar Gandhi had said in his petition.
The Gujarat High Court had taken note of the assurance given by the State Government that the existing Ashram would not be disturbed, altered or changed. The High Court had also emphasised that the proposed project would promote the ideas and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi and it would be beneficial for mankind at large and that the revamped Gandhi Ashram would be a place for learning for mankind of all age groups.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is personally interested in the redevelopment of the Sabarmati Ashram and had laid the foundation of the redevelopment project in March 2024 on the 94th anniversary of the Dandi March.
The Sabarmati Ashram has been on the banks of Sabarmati in Ahmedabad since 1917 from the time Mahatma Gandhi set it up. Gandhi had set up five settlements during his lifetime including two in Ahmedabad (Sabarmati and Kochrab) besides Sewagram, Wardha in Maharashtra and two IN South Africa including Phoenix in Natal and Tolstoy Farm outside Johannesburg.
It was at the Sabarmati Ashram in AHmedabad that Mahatma Gandhi conceived the idea of non violence which he used as a tool to fight for freedom of India from the Britishers.
The Sabarmati Ashram was believed to be the first Ashram or settlement of its kind which believed in eco-friendly practices, sustainability and self-reliance besides promoting community living.
