A man sweeps the pathway at Gandhi Bhavan in Beliaghata, Kolkata. Formerly known as Hydari Mansion, Mahatma Gandhi stayed here on the day the country got its Independence. Photo: Arunangsu Roy Chowdhury
Children arrange flowers at the prayer hall. Disapproving of the partition of India and the communal-riots that followed, Gandhiji decided to skip the Independence Day celebration and stayed in Calcutta (now known as Kolkata). Photo: Arunangsu Roy Chowdhury
The meeting room in Hydari Mansion, Kolkata. On August 12, 1947, Gandhiji moved to this mansion from Sodepur Ashram. He had to face an angry crowd of Hindus in this riot-affected city. Photo: Arunangsu Roy Chowdhury
Children arrranging flowers at the prayer hall. The Bengali inscription in the Mahatma's handwriting reads "My life is my message". This was the message he passed on to the 'Shanti Sena Dal' (Peace Army). Photo: Arunangsu Roy Chowdhury
The caretaker of the building displays old pictures of Gandhiji taken during his stay in the Mansion. The Father of the Nation spent the first day of India’s independence fasting, spinning cotton and in prayers. Photo: Arunangsu Roy Chowdhury
This photo archive shows Gandhiji speaking with his guests during his stay in the Hydari Mansion. In a bid to restore peace in Calcutta, Gandhiji started fasting from Sept 1, 1947. He broke it four days later after assurance from leaders of all communities in Calcutta.
On September 7, 1947, he left for Delhi from the Mansion, which is now renamed as 'Gandhi Bhavan'. All the belongings he used during his stay are in a museum. Photo: Arunangsu Roy Chowdhury
Gandhi Bhavan also has a collection of photographs taken during his stay. Photo: Arunangsu Roy Chowdhury