1: Investing in History: Sabarmati Ashram Redevelopment Project

- Prime Minister of India recently initiated the Sabarmati Ashram Redevelopment Project on the 94th anniversary of the Dandi March.

- Aided by an investment of Rs 1,200 crore, the project aims to restore, conserve, and rejuvenate the historically significant Sabarmati Ashram, founded by Mahatma Gandhi.

2: Unravelling History: Sabarmati Ashram and its Significance

- Established in 1917 by Mahatma Gandhi, the Sabarmati Ashram is nestled on the west bank of the Sabarmati River near Ahmedabad's Juna Vadaj village.

-  The Ashram's establishment marks one of Mahatma Gandhi's five settlements; two in South Africa and three in India.

- Sabarmati Ashram played a crucial role in India's independence movement, providing a foundational base for Gandhi's significant socio-political activities and experiments.

- Notably, the Ashram witnessed pivotal movements like the Dandi March in 1930 and several other satyagrahas.

- The Ashram, managed today by the Sabarmati Ashram Preservation and Memorial Trust (SAPMT), emphasises Gandhi's principles of simplicity, self-sufficiency, and communal living and is a symbol of his enduring legacy.

3: A Step into the Past: The Dandi March

- Dating back to ancient Indian times, salt making, primarily handled by farmers, gradually became a commercial commodity subject to British imposed salt tax.

- Sensing the salt tax as an exploitative colonial measure, Mahatma Gandhi mobilised the masses against British rule using the emblematic Dandi March or Salt Satyagraha.

- Launched from Sabarmati Ashram on March 12,1930, the Dandi March concluded on April 6, 1930, with Gandhi breaking the salt law, thereby igniting a wave of civil disobedience against British salt monopoly.

4: The Road Ahead: Redevelopment Impact and Objectives

- The Sabarmati Ashram Redevelopment Project, beyond just conservation, aims to reinforce Gandhian philosophy and principles among new generations.

- The project would also help in enhancing tourism, contributing to economic development, and promoting awareness about India's struggle for Independence.

- By preserving and rejuvenating these historical landmarks, India pays tribute to the legacies of its freedom struggle and the great leaders like Mahatma Gandhi who contributed significantly to it.