Connection with Gandhiji 
Gandhiji stayed at Dr. M.A. Ansari’s residence ‘Dar-us-Salam’ (Abode of peace) many times from 1921 to 1931. He visited the place even after Dr. Ansari’s death to meet ailing Begum Ansari.

Background
Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed Ansari was a practicing physician and a prominent leader in the national independence movement. He was closely associated with Gandhiji and was considered an apostle of Hindu-Muslim unity. He was also one of the founders and first Vice-Chancellor of Jamia Milia Islamia University till his death in 1936. Dr. Ansari served as the president of the Indian National Congress in 1927.

Gandhiji’s leadership during Satyagraha against Rowlatt bills in 1919 pulled Dr. Ansari towards him. He became ‘most prominent satyagrahi’ and his ‘chief lieutenant in Delhi’

Details of Gandhiji’s stay and visits
• Gandhiji stayed at Dr. Ansari’s house for the first time from November 2- 7, 1921. Among other engagements, he attended the All India Congress Committee (AICC) meeting during this period.
• Gandhiji was the guest at Dr. Ansari’s house again from February 23-28, 1922. Apart from attending AICC and Congress Working Committee (CWC) meetings, he gave an interview to the press in which he answered questions related to the Congress and its confrontation with the government. • Dr. Ansari hosted Gandhiji from November 9-19, 1924. During this period, Gandhiji wrote a letter to Lala Lajpatrai on November 12. He mentioned ‘c/o Dr. Ansari, Daryaganj’ on the top of the letter.
• Gandhiji went to Delhi at the invitation of the Viceroy. He reached Delhi on October 31, 1927, and stayed there till November 2 at Dr. Ansari’s residence. He had a meeting with Khadi workers on the evening of November 1. It was held at Dr. Ansari’s house. The next day, he was felicitated by Jamia Milia Islamia University.
• During the course of the historical Gandhi-Irwin pact, Gandhiji stayed at Dr. Ansari’s house from February 17 to March 8, 1931. It was his last and longest stay at that place.
• After Dr. Ansari’s accidental death on May 10, 1936, Gandhiji paid a condolence visit to Begum Ansari on October 27, 1936.
• Gandhiji kept on visiting ailing Begum Ansari during his subsequent visits to Delhi. He went to see her on September 20, 1938, and November 10, 1938. Begum Ansari passed away on December 21, 1938.

Additional Details
• Gandhiji wrote a letter to Romain Rolland on November 13, 1924, during his stay at Dr. Ansari’s house, thanking Mr. Rolland to send Ms. Madeline Slade. ‘What a treasure you have sent me’ wrote Gandhiji, ‘I shall do everything to become a little bridge between East and West. I am too perfect to have a disciple. She will be my companion in my research (for the truth).
• Gandhiji’s speech at Jamia Milia Islamia, Delhi, November 1, 1927