Gandhi Ashram Redevelopment: 23 Museums To Come Up At Sabarmati Ashram

Ahmedabad’s historic Sabarmati Ashram is set for a major transformation, with 23 museums planned as part of a large-scale redevelopment of the site on the banks of the Sabarmati River. According to reports, the contract to design the museums has been awarded to Paris-headquartered Museum Studio, which will work in a consortium with Ecofirst Services Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Consulting Engineers.

Museum Studio, which has a presence in 46 countries, specialises in turnkey projects for cultural institutions. The company will work on the museum designs alongside Ecofirst, while the National Institute of Design (NID) has been brought in for proof-checking, review and approval of the proposed museum design.

The redevelopment is being overseen by the Mahatma Gandhi Sabarmati Ashram Memorial Trust, under the direct supervision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The project is being jointly implemented by the Central and Gujarat governments, with urban planner Bimal Patel’s firm HCP Design, Planning and Management preparing the masterplan and undertaking the civil works.

A New Chapter For A Historic Ashram

Established by Mahatma Gandhi in 1917, Sabarmati Ashram was Gandhi’s home during a crucial period of India’s freedom struggle. He moved to the 60-acre site on the banks of the Sabarmati River in the same year as his first major satyagraha in Champaran, Bihar.

The redevelopment will encompass 28 buildings that formed part of the original ashram complex, including a hostel, gaushala, school, spinning and weaving centre, paper-making centre and creche. Twenty-three of these buildings will be developed as museums and exhibition spaces.

The restoration is also intended to retain the architectural character of the historic structures. According to the report, the buildings are being revived using traditional materials including bricks, teak and lime plaster. A traditional binding paste made from urad dal, jaggery and fenugreek seeds is also being used.

The project is spread across around 55 acres and is reportedly envisioned as a major memorial dedicated to Gandhi. The Gujarat government launched the redevelopment project in 2021 with the stated aim of creating a world-class tourist destination along the Sabarmati River.

What Will The Museums Tell Visitors?

A nine-member Content Advisory Committee, appointed by the trust, is overseeing the content that will eventually be presented across the museums. The committee includes political figures, philanthropists, museologists and academics and has met three times since it was constituted in March.

Among the material currently being reviewed are accounts of Gandhi’s years in South Africa, the people who influenced his thinking and those he influenced in turn. The committee has also examined material from Gandhi’s time in Johannesburg. One member who visited Satyagraha House in Johannesburg reportedly submitted extensive inputs on Gandhi’s writings preserved there.

The emphasis appears to be on presenting Gandhi’s life and ideas through a combination of historical material and contemporary museum formats. NID will help determine how best to communicate the story to younger visitors, with the report noting that the project is being designed for a generation less inclined towards conventional reading.

At the same time, the digital component of the museums has reportedly been capped at 30 per cent of the overall content presentation. Electronic displays will be installed in air-conditioned spaces.

What Is Being Restored?

The redevelopment goes beyond the creation of new exhibition spaces. The original ashram complex includes 28 buildings, several of which are being conserved and repurposed.

Ecofirst has been awarded a contract worth INR 113 crore for the design and development of museums and exhibitions in 23 buildings. The museum inside the Ashram Gaushala is being restored separately by the National Dairy Development Board.

The project aims to bring together the physical spaces associated with Gandhi’s life with museums that explore his ideas, influences and role in India’s freedom movement.

What It Means For Travellers

For travellers, the redevelopment could significantly change the experience of visiting Sabarmati Ashram. Rather than being primarily a historic site centred around Gandhi’s former residence and personal belongings, the expanded complex is expected to offer a much broader exploration of his life, writings, political philosophy and influence.

The project also means that visitors will eventually be able to spend considerably more time at the ashram, moving between historic buildings, museums and exhibition spaces rather than treating it as a short stop on an Ahmedabad sightseeing itinerary.

The exact opening timeline for the completed museum complex has not been specified in the information available for this report. Travellers planning a visit should therefore check the latest visitor information before making the ashram the centrepiece of their itinerary.

What Else To See Around Sabarmati

A visit to the ashram can also be combined with several of Ahmedabad’s cultural and architectural landmarks. The Sabarmati Riverfront is close by and offers a different perspective on the city and its relationship with the river.

Travellers interested in Gandhi’s life can also look beyond Ahmedabad. Satyagraha House in Johannesburg, referenced in the museum project’s research, is one of the sites associated with Gandhi’s years in South Africa, while the ashram itself remains the starting point for understanding his years in Ahmedabad.

Within the city, Ahmedabad’s historic architecture, textile heritage and museums provide useful context for understanding the social and cultural landscape in which the ashram developed.

For a first visit, allow at least half a day for the Sabarmati area rather than treating the ashram as a quick stop. Once the new museum complex is complete, it could become one of the city’s most substantial cultural attractions.

With inputs from various reports.

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