Congress Leader Objects to Sangeet Night at Historic Gandhi Ashram
A recent pre-wedding celebration held at the historic Kochrab Ashram in Ahmedabad has become a point of contention. The event, a 'sangeet night', drew criticism from some Congress party leaders who objected to the use of the premises associated with Mahatma Gandhi for such a function.
The controversy erupted after Lalji Desai, the chief organiser of the Congress Seva Dal, purportedly questioned the trustees of Gujarat Vidyapith in a video. He challenged them for "allowing" the event to take place on the sacred grounds of the ashram.
Gujarat Vidyapith's Firm Defence of the Event
In response to the criticism, the authorities of Gujarat Vidyapith, which manages the ashram, issued a clarifying statement. They explained that organizing social events for employees residing on its premises is a long-standing tradition of the institution.
The Vidyapith stated that since its establishment, it has made arrangements for events not on a commercial basis but only for its employees. The function in question was the 'Sangeet Sandhya' and 'grahsthapan' programme for the younger son of a 'helper staff' member of the Vidyapith.
The official statement elaborated, "The wedding of the elder son of this employee was also held on the Vidyapith campus earlier. He recently organised the Sangeet Sandhya... in the Activity Centre located on the Kochrab premises." It was clarified that both the main ashram and the Activity Centre are separate buildings within the larger Kochrab campus.
Details of the Celebration and Institutional Tradition
According to the Vidyapith, the event featured wedding songs, food arrangements, and appropriate light and sound systems for the evening programme. The institution strongly emphasized that this was a sanctioned family event for an employee, conducted according to its rules, and was not for private individuals or financial gain.
The statement concluded by invoking the philosophy of the ashram's founder, noting, "Gandhiji believed that the occasion of an ashram resident or employee was an occasion for everyone." This underscores the community-centric ethos that the Vidyapith claims to uphold.
The Kochrab Ashram holds immense historical significance as Mahatma Gandhi's first ashram in India, established in 1915. Both the ashram and the Gujarat Vidyapith, a university, were founded by Gandhi himself, making their management and usage a matter of public and historical interest. The incident, reported on January 6, 2026, highlights the ongoing tension between preserving historical sites and accommodating the living community associated with them.
