Gandhi,s hridaykunj taken around 1930

caption: pic of hridaykunj taken around 1930
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hridayoldest: Hridaykunj in 1930
hridayold: Hridaykunj four to five years later
hridaynew: Hridaykunj at present
The changing face of Gandhi Ashram
A rare picture of Gandhiji and Kasturba’s house taken in 1930 shows how Hridaykunj and the Ashram have been modified over the years


Dilip Patel


The most famous heritage structure in Ahmedabad — Gandhiji’s home at Sabarmati Ashram — is actually quite different in appearance from the original Hridaykunj.
A rare picture of Gandhiji and Kasturba’s house taken around 1930 shows that a number of changes have been made to Hridaykunj after Gandhiji walked out of it for the last time on March 30, 1930 for Dandi.
Gandhi Sena President Dhimant Badhiya said, “Gandhiji’s house should not have been tampered with after he left. But in past 79 years, several changes have been made to the structure of the house as well as the ashram complex.”


1. The fence surrounding Hridaykunj has been removed. Of the two pipal and one neem tree on the right, only the neem tree has survived. The two others were cut down.
2. Steel bars have been set into the windows that used to remain open.
3. New concrete steps have been constructed on the approachway to the outer courtyard of the house, replacing the simple wooden steps.
4. A toilet behind Hridaykunj used by Gandhiji has been pulled down
5. A platform used to wash clothes and utensils (left) earlier has been removed
6. The front area of the ashram has been extended and a wall built to separate it from the Sabarmati riverfront.
7. A well adjacent to the house has been sealed off with a cement cover. A concrete structure has been created on the well to increase its height. All these changes have been made in the past nine months.
8. A private trust is encroaching on the complex which houses
Gandhiji’s weaving school for spinning the charkha
9. Mira kutir and Vinoba kutir, a house built by Gandhiji for Miraben was pulled down when the light and sound shows were started in the ashram. It was considered an obstruction, sources said. A 15x15 sq feet room besides the kutir was also pulled down.
Now a ‘brand new’ Mira kutir and Vinoba kutir has been built a few metres away