Early residents
Some of the early residents of Sevagram Ashram, circa 1938. Among those included in the photo are Kasturba Gandhi (3rd from right) with her
Gandhi (Photographer)
Gandhi at Bapu Kuti
Gandhi in front of his hut at Sevagram Ashram, circa 1941. The hut is called "Bapu Kuti," and was originally built by Mirabehn. Gandhi greatly
Gandhi (Photographer)
Gandhi eating with coresidents
Gandhi and coresidents eating together at Sevagram Ashram. Seated next to Gandhi is Abha Gandhi, and Sarlabehn is seated next to Abha. In nice
Gandhi and Kasturba speaking to coresidents
Gandhi and Kasturba speaking with coresidents at Sevagram Ashram, circa 1940. Seated to the left of Kasturba is Abha Gandhi.
Gandhi (Photographer)
Gandhi walking with Johara and Lilavati
Gandhi walking with coresidents Johara ("Joharabehn") and Lilavati Asar ("Lilavatibehn") at Sevagram Ashram, circa 1939. Pictured to the left is
Gandhi (Photographer)
Interfaith and intercaste wedding at Sevagram Ashram
This photograph documents the wedding of Dakshayani, a Hindu Dalit (Pulayar caste) woman, and Velayudhan, a Christian Dalit (Ezhava caste) man.
Gandhi (Photographer)
Jawaharlal Nehru visiting Sevagram Ashram
Jawaharlal Nehru and other politicians visit Sevagram Ashram. Jawaharlal Nehru later became the first Prime Minister of independent India.
Mourning Kasturba Gandhi and Mahadev Desai
Gandhi and coresidents from Sevagram Ashram mourning the passing of Kasturba Gandhi and Mahadev Desai at the Aga Khan Palace prison, 1944.
Gandhi (Photographer)
Gandhi walking with coresidents, 1944
Gandhi walking with coresidents at Sevagram Ashram, circa 1944. Gandhi advocated daily walks for health purposes, and regularly walked to and from
Mirabehn and Gandhi at the spinning wheel
Mirabehn helping Gandhi repair his spinning wheel. To emphasize economic self-sufficiency (swadeshi) and village handicrafts, all
Kasturba washing Gandhi's feet
Kasturba Gandhi washing Gandhi's feet, circa 1939. Such bodily service (seva) toward Gandhi was performed by Kasturba and some other
Gandhi (Photographer)
Gandhi walking with residents and a cow
Gandhi walking with coresidents (and a cow) at Sevagram Ashram. The community had a small dairy farm with both cattle and goats, as part of its
Amrit Kaur and Kasturba Gandhi
Kasturba Gandhi (seated, front) and Amrit Kaur (standing, rear) at Sevagram Ashram, circa 1941.
Gandhi (Photographer)
Celebrating baby goats
Celebrating the birth of goats at Sevagram Ashram, circa 1938. Gandhi holds hands with his grandson, Kahandas Gandhi. Mirabehn pets the goats;
Gandhi (Photographer)
Feeding cows
Residents feeding cows at Sevagram Ashram, circa 1940. Pictured at the center is Kasturba Gandhi, with Abha Gandhi to her left.
Gandhi (Photographer)
Gandhi walking with Kasturba and grandson
Gandhi walking at Sevagram Ashram with his wife, Kasturba Gandhi (on his left), and his grandson (on his right). Also depicted is Nirmala Gandhi (
Celebrating Gandhi's birthday
Celebrating Gandhi's birthday (October 2) at Sevagram Ashram in 1938. Kanu Gandhi is seated in the center next to Gandhi; Pyarelal Nayar stands on
Gandhi walking with Kanu and Abha
Gandhi walking with Kanu Gandhi (on the left) and Abha Gandhi (on the right), circa 1945-46
Gandhi and Parchure Shastri
Gandhi attending to Parchure Shastri at Sevagram Ashram, 1939. Parchure Shastri was stricken with leprosy, and therefore deemed an outcaste by
Gandhi and Pyarelal Nayar
Pyarelal Nayar with Gandhi, in Gandhi's hut at Sevagram Ashram, circa 1939.
Gandhi seated with coresidents
Gandhi seated with coresidents in front of his hut at Sevagram Ashram, circa 1939. Sushila Nayar is seated to Gandhi's left.
Amtul Salaam giving Gandhi a massage
Amtul Salaam giving Gandhi a massage, circa 1938. Such bodily service (seva
Lilavati washing Gandhi's feet
Lilavati Asar washing Gandhi's feet, circa 1939. Such bodily service (seva
Gandhi (Photographer)
Welcome sign at Sevagram Ashram
Welcome sign at Sevagram Ashram. Written in both Hindi and English, the sign emphasizes that Sevagram Ashram is both a historic place of national
McLain (Photographer)
Bapu Kuti sign
"Bapu Kuti" sign at Sevagram Ashram. This sign explains the significance of "Bapu Kuti" as Gandhi's residence at Sevagram Ashram, emphasizing that
McLain (Photographer)
Bapu Kuti exterior 1
Gandhi's cottage, "Bapu Kuti," at Sevagram Ashram. Today this house is preserved as a heritage site. In the decades since Gandhi lived here, a
McLain (Photographer)
Bapu Kuti exterior 2
Exterior of "Bapu Kuti," Gandhi's Cottage at Sevagram Ashram.
McLain (Photographer)
Bapu Kuti interior 1
The main living space inside "Bapu Kuti," Gandhi's cottage at Sevagram Ashram.
McLain (Photographer)
Bapu Kuti interior 2
Interior wall of "Bapu Kuti," Gandhi's cottage at Sevagram Ashram. Gandhi admired the palm trees and the "Om" symbol that Mirabehn molded by hand
McLain (Photographer)
Bapu Kuti interior 3
The septic toilet inside "Bapu Kuti," Gandhi's cottage at Sevagram Ashram. Work to build earthen latrines and compost waste material was part of
McLain (Photographer)
Ashram Observances sign
Sign featuring the 11 observances residents vowed to live by at Sevagram Ashram.
McLain (Photographer)
Ba Kuti
"Ba Kuti, " the house of Kasturba, Gandhi's wife, at Sevagram Ashram with the prayer ground in the foreground.
McLain (Photographer)
Dining Hall
The communal dining hall at Sevagram Ashram. Community members ate simple vegetarian meals together here, and were expected to take turns
McLain (Photographer)
Prayer Ground
The prayer ground at Sevagram Ashram. The community members gathered here in the morning and evening for ecumenical prayers together, and for
McLain (Photographer)
Parchure Kuti sign
The sign at "Parchure Kuti," the home of Parchure Shastri at Sevagram Ashram. Parchure Shastri was a coresident and Sanskrit scholar who was
McLain (Photographer)
Parchure Kuti
"Parchure Kuti," the home of Parchure Shastri at Sevagram Ashram. Parchure Shastri was a coresident and Sanskrit scholar who was stricken with
McLain (Photographer)
Akhiri Niwas
"Akhiri Niwas," the final house that Gandhi lived in at Sevagram Ashram. It was initially used as a medical center for the local villagers, to
McLain (Photographer)
Snake cage
The long tongs used to capture poisonous snakes at Sevagram Ashram, and the wooden cage they were place in to hold for removal and release at a
McLain (Photographer)
Rustam Bhavan
"Rustam Bhavan," the original four-room guest house at Sevagram Ashram. The guest house was built to accommodate overnight stays by Indian
McLain (Photographer)
Nai Talim
"Nai Talim," the basic education center at Sevagram Ashram. Gandhi and the coresidents at Sevagram Ashram were invested in developing an
McLain (Photographer)
Yatri Niwas tourism sign
Sign at "Yatri Niwas," the tourist accommodation area, at Sevagram Ashram. In an effort to increase tourism to this heritage site, this area is
McLain (Photographer)
Exhibition Center
The exhibition center / museum in the "Yatri Niwas" (Tourist Accommodation) area at Sevagram Ashram.
McLain (Photographer)
Yatri Niwas
"Yatri Niwas," the tourist accommodation area at Sevagram Ashram. This area features new overnight accommodations from simple dorm-style hostel
McLain (Photographer)