The Hindu : Other States / Orissa News : Pride of place for Swaraj Ashram

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Wednesday, Oct 31, 2007
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Pride of place for Swaraj Ashram

Correspondent

Plans drawn up to revive the ancient structure

The ashram to get facelift with Rs. 4 lakhs
Memorial museum, library to also come up

CUTTACK: Swaraj Ashram, the epicentre of all activities of freedom struggle in Orissa, is very likely to get a facelift soon as the government has announced an assistance of Rs. 4 lakhs for the protected monument besides submitting a proposal to the Centre to set up a memorial museum on freedom struggle here at a cost of Rs. 1.5 crores.

At a recently held meeting in the ashram, State Culture Secretary Gopinath Mohanty assured freedom fighters that the ashram would get back its lost glory.

At least 25 freedom fighters who attended the meeting urged the government not to allow the rich monument and its artefacts to go waste.

With a view to carrying out the aims and objectives of the Gandhi Mission Trust Fund Committee (GMTFC), the government worked out the plans of the museum, said an official of the State Archaeological Department.

Along with the museum, the premises of the ashram would also house a memorial library to showcase the treasure trove of articles, documents and artefacts of freedom struggle in Orissa, the official said.

Welcome move

Noted freedom fighters and several others set up the trust in 1932 here with an aim to spread the Gandhian philosophy and his teachings across the State. But after the death of the trust members, the ashram turned out to be a den for unsocial elements.

Freedom fighters heaved a sigh of relief as the entire ashram along with the double-storied structures on the banks of the Kathjodi where Mahatma Gandhi stayed for two days during his first visit in March 1921 would be revived now. Gandhiji also addressed a mass gathering during that visit.

The government, exercising powers under the Orissa Ancient Monuments Preservation

Rules-1959, declared the ashram a protected monument in 1986. In 1994, the then Collector, exercising his powers under Section 13 of the Orissa Escheats Act, declared: “The property in the name and style of Swaraj Ashram has been vested with the State government.”

In June 2004 the illegal occupants of the ashram were evicted with the help of police.

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