Today we celebrate Gandhi Jayanthi, the 147th birth anniversary of the Father of our Nation, Mahatma Gandhi or Bapuji, as he is fondly addressed.
Gandhiji’s influence is global and he continues to inspire millions today. He believed that non-violence is the way, and proved it during his lifetime, sticking to his values and principles.
On this occasion, I am pleased to share some photos of the Sabarmati Ashram, which I visited last year.
Also known as Satyagraha Ashram and Harijan Ashram in Ahmedabad, which was Gandhiji’s residence for over twelve years from 1917 to 1930, the Sabarmati Ashram is on the banks of the Sabarmati river and a national monument.
Speak no evil, See no evil, Hear no evil
From Mohan to Mahatma
Using the ashram as his base, Gandhiji led the Dandi march or the Salt Satyagraha on 12th March 1930 from here.
This display of nonviolence had a significant impact on the Indian Independence movement.
India’s freedom struggle began at the ashram.
The ashram focuses on a number of activities to preserve India’s freedom struggle and the history, teachings and life events of Gandhiji. He was multi-lingual – he could sign off in so many languages!
The place itself is tranquil and serene, and lush with greenery.
I enjoyed the memorial museum, which has a large collection of Gandhiji’s writings, nicely preserved. The picture below proves Gandhiji’s popularity – he received letters addressed to him as “M K Gandhi, New Delhi” Cool or what?
There is also a library, auditorium and photo galleries with an archive of Gandhiji’s letters, his manuscripts, films about his life and India’s freedom struggle and plenty of books.
The ashram is open to all and a wonderful place to spend a few hours.
I also visited the shop inside the museum to buy some mementoes.
More about the ashram here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabarmati_Ashram
Here are some of my favorite inspiring quotes by Gandhiji
- You must be the change you wish to see in the world.
- The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.
- An eye for eye only ends up making the whole world blind.
- Where there is love there is life.
- Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.
- Nobody can hurt me without my permission.
- When I admire the wonders of a sunset or the beauty of the moon, my soul expands in the worship of the creator.
- Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.
- The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.
- A ”No” uttered from deepest conviction is better and greater than a ”Yes” merely uttered to please, or what is worse, to avoid trouble.
- First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.
- There is more to life than increasing its speed.
- You can chain me, you can torture me, you can even destroy this body, but you will never imprison my mind.
- Monotony is the law of nature. Look at the monotonous manner in which the sun rises. The monotony of necessary occupation is exhilarating and life giving.
- If you don’t ask, you don’t get.
- I suppose leadership at one time meant muscles; but today it means getting along with people.
- If I had no sense of humor, I would long ago have committed suicide.
My life is my message #WomenAtWork
I’ve met and admire all kinds of working women but I especially bow to those who think nothing of standing in the scorching sun all day to make a meagre living, and what’s more, they do it with a smile. Today’s choice represents millions of women across India: fruit sellers outside tourist sites. These cheerful women were selling fruit: fresh date fruit, melons, papaya, bananas, mangoes, pomegranates, plums and mangoes outside the Adalaj Stepwell It was an extremely warm day and we had finished off our bottles of water soon after we set out to explore the city.
The fruit and juice stalls outside the stepwell were a blessing. I saw fresh date fruit for the first time in my life here.
We buy dates regularly at the supermarket. They’re de-seeded packaged, and ready to eat.
I’ve always admired how these sellers are always so pleasant. I mean, it must be tough standing in the sun all day. Also, it is not easy running their business. For one thing, they have to head off in the early hours of the morning to procure their wares, after much haggling. Then they must sell it to people who’ll bargain like crazy. What margins might they make? And they must sell, since fruits are perishables.
What is wonderful is their generosity, in spite of all the hardship they go through. They’ll happily add an extra to your purchase, with a smile.
So much good Karma.
Don’tcha love these women? You’ll find them everywhere, struggling, yet appearing happy with their lot and willing to have a conversation. They take pride in their work, look after their children lovingly and appear quite content.
Just as Gandhiji said “My life is my message”, I think these women convey the same through their lives. The message that it doesn’t take much to be happy, and happiness is a choice.
Have a great week!
Linking up with Parul for the Women at Work bloghop
An interesting journey this post took us on. From Bapu to the fruit seller lady. Enjoyed it all. I especially loved those quotes of Bapu.
Hello Vidya, I just love that example of how these women are willing to give you a little extra. It’s the same at the farmer’s market here with one of the sellers. So special to see this generosity. Thanks for this inspiration.
The ashram looks so peaceful and the quotes very inspiring. Even though I have read few of them before, it still instill same kind of feeling. Indeed the patience and good humor of vendors is admirable. That’s a beautiful example you shared.
Such a wonderful inspirational post to start the week (and the working month, here at least). If I come back to India, I must visit this Ashram.
Much love, Jemima xx
This is fascinating! And indeed very inspiring too! These ladies are indeed so very friendly and I love their smiles too, you just can’t resist buying something from them. 🙂 #mg
During my 8 years’ stay in Ahmedabad, I had several opportunities to visit Gandhi Ashram. It is always the first place to visit on the list of guests and visitors to Ahmedabad.
Such a beautiful post, I love the Ghandi quotes, he was an amazing man! I would like to visit the Ashram one day, it looks so peaceful. I love your description of the ladies selling the fruit and your pictures are fabulous too xx #mg
Such gorgeousness.
Love the quote by Gandhi about the dirt feet!
Love you more than birthday cupcakes! xx
Wow what an amazing piece you have shared here, I have actually never heard that dirty feet quote it is so amazing and one to remember for sure. Very inspiring #mg
The Ashram would have been such a fantastic experience. Arent Gandhi’s quotes evergreen !
Love love this post the story, the quotes and the colours- thank you x
Such beautiful images and inspiring quotes. I love your message about spreading smiles – so simple and yet so many people forget this all important gesture, not just for brightening other people’s days, but also their own. Thanks for sharing your experience. I choose happiness #mg
p.s. your ‘did you smile today’ tick box totally made me smile!
You can feel the peace and serenity of the place through thd pics itself..
These women are amazing and I love their bright clothing which seems to smile at me also. It reminds me of the small farmer here whom we love to help out to. I love these quotes from Gandhi and find him one of the most heroic men I ever read about. Oh and, silly me….somehow I mistakenly deleted the quotes you sent me. If it’s not too much of a bother, would you be able to send them to me again?? If not, I understand. Blessings
🙂 Yes, that’s the sweetest thing, Birgit. They dress very colorfully in those parts. I’ll put together a post with photos of the market I visited after the Ashram. Dazzling, it was! Of course I’ll send it again. 🙂 No bother at all! Hugs!
What a lovely post. So cool to visit the Ashram. I have only read about it. The picture tells the story of that place.
Thank you for linking this to #WomenAtWork. You are right that these women do so much hard work and a smile and conversation sure fill their heart with some goodness. You are so kind, Vidya. <3
It is easy to find fault with what Gandhi ji said and stood for. But when we think about him and his principles it seems inconceivable that a man could have achieved os much with such absolute simplicity. The other day I was watching a film called Selma on Martin Luther King and it made me realise how far reaching his thoughts were and how effective. I think in these crazy violent times he is ever more pertinent.
He paved the way for our MLK’s non-violent protests for racial equality. He was a great man with visions of peace.
Such a heartfelt post, Vidya Ma’am! Gandhiji was truly an inspiration and with his teachings and sayings, he still continues to do so.
Happiness and gratitude is all around us, if only we choose to look for it!
Cheers
Bapubis surely an inspiration. I have been thinking the ashram and love the serenity and calmness it held. Moving fronm there to the women at work. I know a vegetable seller in my neighbourhood who would often fill my little girls hands with carrots and tomatoes just to see the little one smile.
I really wanted to write a post on Mahatma Gandhi, but I was too tired at the time. Been a long-time admirer…
Great post, loved the quotes 🙂
Hi Vidyra! What a great post. Mahatma Gandhi remains one of my favorite heroes of all time. Thank you for sharing some of his Ashram. But most especially, thank you for sharing your favorite quotes. Many are in my favorites too and I could read them over and over again and always be inspired. ~Kathy
Amazing clicks and wonerful post. Words from you blog posts are empowering and energizing …. <3