Where Mahatma’s ideals are put into action

Gandhi Niketan Ashram in T. Kallupatti serves as a model for rural development

A view of the Gandhi Niketan Ashram in Kallupatti.Photo: G. Moorthy

While Gandhi Memorial Museum in the city continues to attract a lot of visitors and tourists every day, the district has another strong connection to the Mahatma.

Gandhi Niketan Ashram, established in T. Kallupatti in 1940, serves as a hub for development activity for the rural population. Founded by the late K. Venkatachalapathy, the ashram came into being after his meeting with Gandhi in Sevagram. In the early 1940s, the ashram was a campsite for many freedom fighters from the southern parts of the State.

“Gandhi insisted on 18 areas where a constructive programme should be implemented in the society which will lead to overall development. The ashram has become a centre where programmes are organised for rural development with emphasis on sanitation,” said V. Raghupathy, member of the governing body of Gandhi Niketan ashram and professor of Political Science at Gandhigram Rural Institute.

Many Gandhians believed that the Mahatma’s vision always centred on constructive work, rural development, basic education rather than politics which is why he encouraged establishment of such centres.

While Venkatachalapathy went on to become Additional Development Commissioner to the Government of Tamil Nadu, the ashram had been established as a centre for imparting vocational training and small-scale rural industries. The ashram conducts awareness programmes for panchayat leaders on rural sanitation and hygiene, social issues and training programmes for self-help groups.

Many villagers from T. Kallupatti and nearby areas send their children to the school on the ashram premises which was started in 1946. It is one of the heritage schools in the country recognised by National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT)

“Apart from the normal syllabus, the school also has vocational training in tailoring and carpentry and teaches rural crafts to the students. There are nearly 20 acres of land where the students carry out organic farming and maintain vegetable gardens,” Manoharan, a parent, said.