Historic Gandhi Sewa Ashram in Una faces neglect

Rajesh Sharma

Una, August 22

Gandhi Sewa Ashram at Oel village here that was once a hub of freedom struggle is in a bad state.

Spread over 16.9 kanal, Mahatma Gandhi’s disciple Meera Ben had stayed in a cottage here to initiate the freedom struggle. The ashram was established in October 1935 by veteran freedom fighter Mahashay Tirath Ram with the support of Mahatma Gandhi and Gopi Chand Bhargav from Punjab. As many as 1,000 persons were present, who vowed to carry the flame of freedom to every household.

According to a publication of the Himachal Pradesh Art, Language and Culture Department ‘Himachal Pradesh Mein Swatantrata Sangraam Ka Sankshipt itihaas’, published in 1996, in the wake of circumstances developing due to World War II in March 1940, Mahatma Gandhi had sent his disciple Meera Ben to Oel to train and guide workers engaged in freedom struggle. She lived here in a cottage and preached Gandhism in the areas of Una, Dehra, Amb and Gagret in the districts of Una and Kangra.

The book reveals that on a call by the then Congress president Rajendra Prasad to observe January 26,1940, as Independence Day, events were organised at the ashram here, where a flag-hoisting ceremony was organised.

Mahashay Tirath Ram continued his campaign against the British under the guidance of Mahatma Gandhi and preached his ‘Do or Die’ (Karo ya maro) message to Indians by way of handwritten posters and notices.

On August 18 ,1942 on the occasion of the Chintpurni fair, the Congress organised a political conference at Chintpurni. Despite opposition by the British, Mahashay Tirath Ram and some other freedom fighters managed to reach the conference, where they gave Gandhiji’s message to thousands of people.

Many eminent freedom fighters, including Mahashay Tirath Ram, were arrested and sent to jail. Mahashay Tirath Ram was sentenced to two-year in imprisonment and was kept at the Multan jail. The remaining 17 activists of the ashram went underground and continued their activities.

Up-pradhan, Oel Panchayat, Virender Vashisht said no politician or government official had ever visited the ashram campus.

He said most part of the constructed area had been rented out to private parties by Mahashay Titrath Ram’s son, who mostly lived abroad. Post Independence, while a Trust was constituted to manage the affairs of the ashram, there is no clarity regarding its activities.

The busts of Mahatma Gandhi and Mahashay Tirath Ram, besides historic photographs of freedom fighters, are gatheringdust. Wild shrubs have invading the compound. Leaking roofs, broken doors and littered floors speak of the neglect of the historic ashram, which awaits the intervention of the government to be able to speak about its past glory and services rendered in the struggle to successive generations.

Deputy Commissioner Rakesh Prajapati said according to revenue records, there were three private shareholders of the ashram land. Some part of the land had been rented out.

Since the ashram had strong connection with the freedom struggle, efforts would be made to preserve its history and heritage, the DC said, adding that the ashram would be refurbished under the ‘’Aaj Purani Rahon Se’’ scheme launched by the state government.