Text of PM's address at the inauguration of Kochrab Ashram & launch of Master Plan of Sabarmati Ashram Project in Gujarat

Governor of Gujarat Mr. Acharya Devvrat ji, popular Chief Minister Mr. Bhupendrabhai Patel, Mulubhai Bera, Narhari Amin, C.R. Patil, Kiritbhai Solanki, Mayor Mrs. Pratibha Jain ji, Bhai Karthikeya ji, all other dignitaries, ladies and gentlemen!   

This Sabarmati Ashram of Pujya Bapu has always been a vibrant center of unmatched energy. And like me, whenever we get the opportunity to come here, we can clearly feel Bapu's inspiration within us. There should be ideals of truth and non-violence, resolve to worship the nation, the feeling of seeing Narayan's service in the service of the poor and the deprived, Sabarmati Ashram is keeping these values ​​of Bapu alive even today. I am fortunate that today I have laid the foundation stone for the redevelopment and expansion of Sabarmati Ashram here. Kochrab Ashram, which was the first ashram before Bapu, when he initially came, has also been developed, and I am happy that today it has also been inaugurated. After returning from South Africa, Gandhiji built his first ashram in Kocharab Ashram. Gandhiji used to spin the charkha here and learned carpentry work. After staying in Kocharab Ashram for two years, Gandhiji then shifted to Sabarmati Ashram. After the reconstruction, now the memories of those days of Gandhiji will be preserved in a better way in Kocharab Ashram. I bow at the feet of respected Bapu and pay homage to him. I also congratulate all the countrymen for the development of these important and inspiring places. 

Friends, 

Today, March 12, is also a historical date. On this day, Bapu changed the course of the freedom movement and the Dandi March was inscribed in golden letters in the history of the freedom movement. In independent India too, this date has become a witness to a similar historical occasion, ushering in a new era. On March 12, 2022, the country started the Amrit Mahotsav of Independence from this Sabarmati Ashram. Dandi March played an important role in determining the holy land of independent India, in creating its background, in remembering that holy land and moving forward. And, the commencement of Amrit Mahotsav heralded India's entry into the Amrit Kaal. Amrit Mahotsav created the same atmosphere of public participation in the country as was seen before independence. Every Indian would be happy to know about the Amrit Mahotsav of Independence, how widespread it was and how Gandhi's thoughts were reflected in it. The countrymen know that during this program of the golden age of independence, more than 3 crore people took the oath of Panch Pran. More than 2 lakh Amrit Vatikas were constructed in the country. Care was taken for their complete development by planting more than 2 crore trees and plants. Not only this, a huge revolutionary work was done in the direction of water conservation, more than 70 thousand Amrit Sarovars were built. And we remember, the Har Ghar Tricolor campaign had become a very powerful medium of expression of patriotism in the entire country. Under the 'Meri Maati, Mera Desh campaign', crores of countrymen paid tribute to the martyrs of the country. During the Amrit Mahotsav, more than 2 lakh stone plaques have also been installed. Therefore, Sabarmati Ashram has become a pilgrimage site for the fight for freedom as well as the resolve for a developed India. 

Friends, 

The country which does not cherish its heritage also loses its future. This Sabarmati Ashram of Bapu is a historical heritage not only of the country but of mankind. But after independence, justice could not be done to this heritage also. This ashram of Bapu was once spread over 120 acres. Over time, due to various reasons, it was reduced to only 5 acres. Once upon a time, there used to be 63 small construction houses here, and out of them now only 36 houses are left, it has become 6-3, 3-6. And out of these 36 houses, tourists can visit only 3 houses. The ashram which has created history, which has played such a big role in the independence of the country, which people from all over the world come here to see, know and experience, that Sabarmati Ashram should be preserved. It is the responsibility of all 140 crore Indians.

And friends, 

The families living here have played a big role in the expansion of Sabarmati Ashram that is possible today. It was due to their cooperation that 55 acres of land of the ashram was recovered. I appreciate and express my gratitude to those families who have played a positive role in this. Now our endeavor is to preserve all the old buildings of the Ashram in their original condition. I try to find houses that need to be rebuilt from scratch, so that even if the need does not arise, I have to do whatever happens. The country should feel that it maintains the traditional style of construction. In the coming times, this reconstruction will create a new attraction among the people of the country and abroad. 

Friends, 

The governments that existed after independence neither had the thought nor the political will to save such heritage of the country. Firstly, there was a habit of looking at India from a foreign perspective and secondly, there was a compulsion for appeasement due to which India's heritage, our great heritage, kept getting destroyed. Encroachment, uncleanliness, disorder, all these surrounded our heritages. I am the MP from Kashi, I will give you the example of Kashi. The entire country knows what the situation was there 10 years ago. But when the government showed will, people also cooperated and 12 acres of land was obtained for the reconstruction of Kashi Vishwanath Dham. Today, many types of facilities like Museum, Food Court, Mumukshu Bhawan, Guest House, Mandir Chowk, Emporium, Passenger Facilitation Centre, etc. have been developed on the same land. After this reconstruction, now you see that in 2 years more than 12 crore devotees have come to see Vishwanath ji. Similarly, we freed 200 acres of land for the expansion of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya. Earlier there was very dense construction on this land also. Today Ram Path, Bhakti Path, Janmabhoomi Path, and other facilities are being developed there. In Ayodhya also, more than one crore devotees have had darshan of Lord Shri Ram in the last 50 days. Just a few days ago, I have inaugurated many development works in Dwarka ji also. 

Well friends, 

In a way, the land of Gujarat had shown the country the way to save its heritage. Remember, the renovation of Somnath temple under the leadership of Sardar Saheb was a very historic event in itself. Gujarat holds many such heritages within itself. This Ahmedabad city is a World Heritage City. Rani ki Vav, Champaner and Dholavira are also counted among the World Heritage. Thousands of years old port city Lothal is discussed all over the world. Be it development of Girnar, Pavagadh, Modhera, Ambaji, works have been done in all such important places to enrich their heritage. 

Friends, 

We have also launched a development campaign for our places associated with the heritage of the freedom struggle and for our national inspiration. You must have seen that there used to be a Rajpath in Delhi. We worked to develop Rajpath as a duty path. We installed the statue of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose on the duty path. We developed places associated with the freedom struggle and Netaji in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and also gave them proper identity. We also developed the places associated with Baba Saheb Ambedkar as Panch Teerth. Here in Ekta Nagar, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's Statue of Unity has today become a center of attraction for the whole world. Today lakhs of people go there to pay homage to Sardar Patel ji. You will see Dandi, how much it has changed, thousands of people go to Dandi today. Now the development and expansion of Sabarmati Ashram is another big step in this direction. 

Friends, 

The future generations...people coming to this ashram will be able to understand how the saint of Sabarmati had stirred the minds of the people of the country with the power of the charkha. The minds of the people of the country were made conscious. And he had given impetus to the many flows of freedom that were going on. In a country which was suffering from despair due to centuries of slavery, Bapu had filled a new hope and new faith by creating a mass movement. Even today his vision shows a clear direction for our country's bright future. Bapu had dreamed of village swaraj and self-reliant India. Now you see we discuss about Vocal for Local. Whatever may be the use of words so that modern people can understand. But basically that is Gandhiji's feeling of patriotism and what else. Mahatma Gandhi's concept of self-reliant India is present in it. Today our Acharya ji was telling me that because he is working with a mission for natural farming. He told me that there are 9 lakh farmer families in Gujarat, this is a huge figure. 9 lakh farmer families have now turned to natural farming, which was Gandhiji's dream, chemical free farming and he told me that 3 lakh metric tonnes of urea has been used less in Gujarat this time. This means that the work of protecting Mother Earth is also being done. If this is not the thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi then what is it? And under the guidance of Acharya ji, Gujarat Vidyapeeth has also got a new life. These great men of ours have left a lot for us. We will have to learn to live it in a modern form. And this is my effort, Khadi, today the power of Khadi has increased so much. Never would have thought that Khadi would ever...otherwise it was stuck in the environment of politicians, we threw it out. This is our way of dedication to Gandhi. And our government, following these ideals of Gandhiji, is giving priority to the welfare of the rural poor and is running the campaign of self-reliant India. Today the village is getting stronger, Bapu's vision of Gram Swaraj is coming true. Women are once again playing an important role in our rural economy. There should be self-help groups, our mothers and sisters who work in them. I am happy that today in the country, more than 1 crore sisters working in self-help groups in villages have become Lakhpati Didis, and my dream is to make 3 crore Lakhpati Didis in the third term. Today the sisters of self-help groups of our village have become drone pilots. She is leading in the direction of modernity in farming. All these things are examples of strong India. There is also a picture of an all-inclusive India. Due to these efforts of ours, the poor have gained self-confidence to fight poverty. In 10 years, 25 crore people have come out of poverty because of the policies of our government. And I firmly believe that wherever the soul of Pujya Bapu is, he would be blessing us. Today, when India is creating new records in the golden age of independence, today when India is touching new heights from land to space, today when India is moving forward with the determination to develop, then the holy place of Mahatma Gandhi is a sacred place for all of us. It is a great inspiration for. And hence Sabarmati Ashram, Kochrab Ashram, We are in favor of connecting the people of modern era with all such places like Gujarat Vidyapeeth. It also strengthens our faith in the resolve and inspiration of a developed India. And I would like to do so if possible, because I have a strong belief that whenever you see the picture of Sabarmati Ashram in front of me coming true, thousands of people will come here. Will try to know the history, will try to know Bapu. And that is why I will also ask the Gujarat government and the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation to do one thing. We have a huge number of people come forward as guides and do a guide competition. Because this is a heritage city, there is competition among the children as to who works as the best guide. Who are the people who can serve as best guides in Sabarmati Ashram? Once there will be competition among children, there will be competition in every school, then every child here will know when Sabarmati Ashram was built, what it is, what it used to do. And secondly, for 365 days, we should decide that every day at least one thousand children from different schools of Ahmedabad will come and spend at least one hour in Sabarmati Ashram. And those children who became guides in his school, they will tell him that Gandhiji used to sit here, eat food here, food was cooked here, there was a cowshed here, they will tell him all the things. We can live the history. No extra budget is needed, no extra effort is needed, just a new perspective is needed. And I believe that Bapu's ideals and these places of inspiration associated with him will continue to guide us further in our journey of nation building and will continue to give us new strength. 

To the countrymen, today I dedicate this new project at your feet. And with this belief I have come here today and I remember, this is not my dream of today, I was the Chief Minister, since then I was engaged in this work. I also spent a lot of time in the courts, because different kinds of people were creating new problems. The Indian government also used to put obstacles in it at that time. But, perhaps it is the blessings of God and the blessings of the public that after getting freedom from all the problems, they are now realizing that dream. Once again I thank you all very much. And my only request to the state government is that its work should start as soon as possible and should be completed as soon as possible, because the main task to complete this work is to plant trees and plants, because if the inside should become like a jungle, then it should have So it will take time, as much time as it takes to grow. But people will start feeling. And I definitely believe that once again in the third term…I have nothing left to say.                   

Thank you very much.