Sevagram

bosquef

Anyone been to Sevagram Ashram (the Ghandian Ashram near Nagpur)?
Would love information, if anyone has it.

roopesh_kohad

I have been there recently. What information do you want?

bosquef

Thanks Roopesh,

Here are my questions - feel free to answer as many as you have time for.

1. Can I stay there for a few days and join in the work/life of the ashram? I've heard of people doing this, but it was several years ago.
2. What is the work/life of the ashram like?
3. Will people there be able to speak English with me?
4. How hot will it be in late June (will the monsoon reach there by then or will it still be summer?)
5. What are accomodations like?
6. Do I have to arrange accomodations in advance, or can I just show up? I'm particularly concerned since the train I'm looking at taking there arrives fairly late in the afternoon - so with the inevitable delay, it might not reach till sometime after dark... Don't like to arrive somewhere after dark with uncertain accomodations...
7. If I get down at the "Sevagram" train station, do I need additional transportation to take me to the ashram? My guidebook mentions getting down at Warda Jct. and taking a bus, but my train does not stop there - it only stops at Sevagram, which isn't mentioned in my guidebook.

roopesh_kohad

Hi,
I am afraid I don't have first hand information about accomodation and service there because I just visited the Ashram for few hours but it is one of the most tranquil place I have visited. Will it suffice if I get you the phone number of key person in Ashram office who could answer all these? My relatives stay in Wardha so getting the number should not be a problem. They can get answers for below questions as well, but they telling me and I writing here will be totally contrived information.

Some answers inline...

Monsoon would have reached by June end. It should be pleasant in Ashram it is green, shaded and surrounded by Agriculture fields.

Accomodation would be in mud baked walled huts/halls with liberal use of wood. Look at some of huts in Ashram here and here.

Yes. You would require additional transport. Catch an autorick from station which should be easily available outside. I believe you would be carrying luggage so rick is better. There might be bus services as well but I don't think they would be that frequent. Also Ashram lies a little inside from main road so hopping on to passing bus may not suffice. So, better catch a rick.

bosquef

Thanks Roopesh,

Thats a lot more information than I had. I especially appreciate the pictures. My Lonely Planet Guidebook lists a contact # for the ashram - 07152284753. If that is the same number your relatives have, then no need to repost - but sometimes these guidebooks are out of date or just have the wrong information to begin with, so if you have time to check, I would certainly appreciate it.

I just noticed that the guidebook also lists another ashram, Brahmavidya Mandir, the Ashram of Ghandi disciple Vinoba Bhave, only 3 km from Sevagram. It also sounds interesting.

geeree

I stayed at the ashram for two days in July this year. It is possible for you to join the people there for a few days and share in their routine. In fact I met people from France and Denmark who were doing that happily.

Most people at the ashram get up at 4:00am (although that is not compulsory!) and take part in prayers at 6:00am and 6:00pm. The prayers involve observing a period of silence, reading through the sacred texts of various religions (like Brahmanic Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Christianity, Buddhism and Jainism) and reading an anecdote from Gandhi's life. Breakfast is served at 7:30am, lunch at 11:00am and dinner at 7:00pm. The food is prepared according to Gandhian concepts of nonviolence and simplicity. You can spend time interacting with various Gandhians and getting introduced to Gandhi's philosophy. They have a bookstore too. About 80% people can speak excellent English. Rains usually start by mid-June and later that month temperatures are around 35C. You can stay at there guest house ("Yatri Niwas") or choose the "Rustam Bhawan," which was constructed by a Indian-South African friend of Gandhi around 1920s. It is advisable to book your accommodation in advance, but I find it unable to give you any phone numbers.

Trains usually stop at Sewagram for just a minute or a half. So the best choice is getting down at Wardha.

HTH
Girish

geeree

You can visit the Gitai Mandir close to Sewagram. This is a "temple" constructed by the Bajaj family and is dedicated to the Marathi translation of the Gita by Vinoba Bhave. Also interesting it the Magan Sangrahalaya. Magan Sangrahalaya is in Wardha. The Gitai Mandir is in Dattapur, a suburb of Wardha. The Brahmavidya Mandir is in a village called Pavnar, close to, but separate from Sewagram.

Girish

incitatus

THE PRESENT ROUTINE OF THE ASHRAM



Time


Activities
4.30 a.m. Rising from bed
4.45 a.m. Morning Prayer
5.15 to 6.30 Study
6.30 to 7.30 Cleaning, kitchen duty
7.30 to 8.00 Breakfast
8.00 to 10.30 a.m. Labour work (Agriculture, Kitchen etc.)
11.00 to 12.00 Lunch and cleaning of grains
12.00 to 2.00 p.m. Rest
2.00 to 2.30 p.m. Community Spinning (Place - Bapu Kuti)
3.00 to 5.00 p.m. Study and other work
5.00 to 5.30 p.m. Evening Meals
6.00 to 6.30 p.m. Evening Prayer (Place - Prayer Ground)
6.30 to 9.00 p.m. Free time - self study
9.00 p.m. Go to bed

According to seasons, prayer and food timing are changed by half an hour. Ashram inmates perform 5-6 hours of assigned work to become self-sufficient. They follow the eleven vows as far as possible.

We welcome those who are willing to contribute their mite to achieve individual and social self-reliance based on the eleven vows of Gandhiji.

Sevagram is 8 Km. from Wardha Railway Junction and 6 Km. from Sevagram Station. Cycle rickshaws, autos and buses are available. 80 Km. from Nagpur city and airport.



Incitatus says.....
This is the current timetable at the ashram. I stayed there a few years ago.Those wishing to stay in the ashram itself should make advance contact - they're not too keen on people just turning up and expecting to stay.I'd recommend demonstrating more than a casual interest in Bapu's life, work ,and aims.
There is however a Yatri Niwas for casual or short term visitors.
Those interested in Gandhiji's life in general and life on the ashram in particular can reference

http://www.mkgandhi.org/sevagram/default.htm

geeree

This is a good reference, yes. Thanks.