Connection with Gandhiji
Sevagram, previously known as Segaon, was Gandhiji’s home from April 1936 to August 1946. Bapu Kuti, Gandhiji’s hut at Sevagram, was the center of activities of Gandhiji. It was also witnessed to many historical moments of the freedom struggle of India.

Background
Segaon was a small village 8 km away from Wardha town in present-day Maharashtra. Jamnalal Bajaj had vast land at his disposal at Segaon. All-India Village Industries Association was housed at Bajaj’s place at Wardha. Bajaj was trying to persuade Gandhiji to shift to Wardha as Gandhiji had pledged not to return to Sabarmati Ashram till swaraj was attained. Gandhiji was also keen on settling in a village to take up the program of constructive work and for broader goals of rural reconstruction.

At last, he wrote to Bajaj confirming to stay at Segaon in March, 1936 with specific conditions. He wrote, ‘As little expense as possible should be incurred in building the hut and in no case should it exceed Rs. 100.’(March 19, 1936)

Gandhiji shifted to Segaon on April 30, 1936. He wrote to Esther Menon that ‘I do not want any of the old co-workers with me if I can help it.’

Eventually, some of his associates including his close aide Mahadev Desai stayed with him at Segaon. Mirabehn was working at for some time Segaon. It was a village that did not even have a post office and road connect with Wardha. The nearest post office was at Wardha.

‘…Well, I am at last at Segaon’ wrote Gandhiji to Amrit Kaur on May 1, 1936. ‘Pyarelal is with me. I wanted him. Ba was to have come but she was unwell. You will be glad to learn that I walked almost the whole distance [of approx 8 kms]. I was none the worse of it. I took the bandi [cart] for the remaining 1/2 of a mile because we had missed the way and the others were getting uneasy about me. We came yesterday. The night was glorious…’

Overview of Gandhiji’s Stay
• Gandhiji narrated the experience of the first few days at Segaon in a letter to Amrit Kaur, including his enthusiasm for walking the full distance from Wardha to Segaon.
• Parchure Shashtri, a scholar suffering from leprosy found shelter at Sevagram in 1939. Gandhiji took his personal care and nursed him at the time when leprosy was a much-dreaded disease and even family members would keep away from the patient. In a letter to Amrit Kaur, Gandhiji wrote, ‘My mind is in Segaon especially since the coming of Parchure Shashtri. He is God’s gift. But it is also medium of my examination.’ (November 18, 1939)
• There was one more town named Shegaon on the Bombay-Nagpur railway line. Many letters and wires addressed to Gandhiji were reaching at the other Shegaon. To avoid confusion of names, villagers sent an application to the authorities to rename Segaon as Sevagram. The change of name took place on March 5, 1940.
• Sevagram became the nerve center of the freedom movement and the country. It was buzzing with activities and the presence of many prominent people including Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, Badshah Khan, C.F. Andrews, C. Rajgoplachari, Dr. Ambedkar, Sarojini Naidu, Subhash Chandra Bose, Rajendra Prasad, Maulana Azad, Jayprakash Narayan
• The American journalist Louis Fischer visited Sevagram and stayed for a week in June 1942. He kept detailed notes of his stay and conversation with Gandhiji. They were published as a book titled ‘A Week With Gandhi’ in 1943.
• Gandhiji attended meetings of several organizations including meetings at Congress Working Committee, Gandhi Seva Sangh, Charakha Sangh, Akhil Bharatiya Gramodyoga Sangh.
• A phone was installed in Gandhiji’s hut on December 2, 1939. Its number was 41 in accordance with the numbers allotted at Wardha. Gandhiji mentioned about having a telephone in a letter to Amrit Kaur.
• In a meeting at Sevagram on July 14, 1942, Congress Working Committee passed a resolution for withdrawal of British power from India and in case of its rejection, ‘to utilize non-violent strength…for the vindication of political rights and liberty. The draft resolution was prepared by Gandhiji.
• Gandhiji left Sevagram for Delhi on August 25, 1946, and engaged himself in a peace mission that ended with the ultimate sacrifice.

Digital Experience
Virtual Tour | Architectural Documents

Site Address/Contact Details
Bapu Kuti,
Sevagram Ashram,
Wardha,
Maharashtra - 442 102
Phone: +91 71522 84753 | E-mail ID: sevagram_ashram@yahoo.in
Website: https://www.gandhiashramsevagram.org/