The Chinese President Mr. Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi today visited the world famous Sabarmati Ashram of Father of Nation Mahatma Gandhi, a place inspiring the people world over even today to take the path of peace and non-violence, in Ahmedabad this evening.
The dignitaries were welcomed at the Sabarmati Ashram, also known as Gandhi Ashram, by Gujarat Chief Minister Smt. Anandiben Patel along with young Harijan girls of the Ashram.
At the Ashram, the Chinese Premier played the ‘Charkha’ (a traditional cotton wheel used by Mahatma Gandhiji to weave his clothes) to pay a rich tribute to Gandhiji. Two dignitaries paid a floral tributes to the statue of Mahatma Gandhi and offered a cotton thread to Gandhiji’s photograph.
Mr. Jinping and Mr. Modi spent few moments at the Ashram to experience the closeness with Gandhiji and his ideology of peace and non-violence. During their stay, the duo also visited ‘Hridaykunj’, a place Gandhiji was using as home in the Ashram. They also saw the photo exhibition depicting the life of Mahatma Gandhi.
Later, Mr. Modi gifted a replica of citation awarded to Gandhiji by the Chinese community in Johannesburg, Africa, in 1908, to Mr. Jinping. While Ashram’s people gifted a book titled as ‘Gandhiji In Ahmedabad’ and an oil-painting showing the historical moment of Gandhiji commencing the famous Dandi March from the Ashram, to the Chinese President.
The Chinese President described his visit to the Gandhi Ashram as one of the most memorable and enlightening moments of his life.
The young-girls of the Ashram played Gandhiji’s most loving and famous bhajan “Vaishnav jan to tane re kahiye je pid parai jane re”.
Others who were present on the occasion included, Gujarat’s Education Minister Mr. Bhupendrasinh Chudasma, Gujarat’s Protocol Minister Mr. Pradipsinh Jadeja, Chief Secretary Dr. Varesh Sinha, Tourism Secretary Smt. Sonal Mishra and office bearers of the Gandhi Ashram.
