Unique Gandhi Asram of Ahmadabad



Khurram Zaman, Special Correspondent, Barta24.com
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From Ahmadabad Gandhi Asram: Gandhi Asram is one of the center points of Indian freedom movement. Though it is known as Gandhi Asram but its’ official name is Sabarmati Asram. Again some call it ‘Stayagraha’ Asram. In 2017 it completed hundred years of its establishment.

The Asram was established on the bank of Sabarmati river of Ahmadabad, capital of Gujarat province of India. In 1917 this Asram has begun its journey with Mahatma Gandhi. The key man of Indian freedom movement also lived in this Asram. He led the liberation movement from this Asram. He also conducted historical foot walk ‘Dundee’ from this Asram. That is why this place has become a place of love for millions of Indian. About one million people visit this Asram every year.

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Though Gandhi was born in Porbandar town of Gujarat still this Asram has become a place of worship. This Asram is located as far as 2500 kilometers from the Bangladesh capital Dhaka. This Asram reminds the Bangla visit of Gandhi.

In 1946 when there was a communal riot in Noakhali district Gandhi paid a hurried visit there and went to Bagumganj and also visited Joyag under present Sonaimuri pourashava. The Zamindar of that area Barrister Hemanta Kumar Das handed over all his moveable and immovable properties to Gandhi and also set up a trust after the name of his parents ‘Ambica- Kaliganga’ charitable trust. However in 1975 the trust was named after Gandhi as Gandhi Asram trust according to government decision.

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According to the sources, the Asram was set up on 36 acres of land on the bank of Sabarmati just seven miles north of Ahmadabad. On January 9 of 1915 after returning from Africa Gandhi mulled to set up an Asram in Ahmadabad. Accordingly he set up an Asram in village Kochrab.  Next he found a better place on the bank of Sabarmati to set up an Asram in a bigger scale. Next on June 17 of 1917 he set up this Asram. Gandhi took the initiative of carrying political movements along with agriculture activities, livestock rearing, dairy firm and producing ‘Khadi’ cloth. Afterwards on May 10 of 1963 the then Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru declared this Asram as memorial where a big museum was set up.  

There is no entry fee here. The Asram has been decorated with beautiful gardens. The Sabarmati is passing by the side of the Asram quietly carrying clear water. There are concrete built ‘Ghats’ on both sides. The Gandhi museum is located on the left side of the Asram. The museum contains library, photo gallery, mementos used by Gandhi, manuscripts, letters, various news papers of that time etc. A copper statute of Gandhi in devotion mood is also there. As if Gandhi is present here.

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An official of the museum informed that there are manuscripts of a number of books numbering 9000 pages, 34117 letters on freedom struggle of India, 8000 thousand photographs of Gandhi life including ‘Dundee’ foot walk, 185 documentary films and 40 thousand books.

The letters contain letter of Gandhi written to Hitler, letter of Tagore to Gandhi.  Regular shows are held in the Asram on the documentary films on Gandhi. ‘Hridoy Kunja’ the residence of Gandhi is located close to Sabarmati. Tally built semi pucca home where a ‘charka’ on the varandha is still there.  Tagore conferred the title Mahatma to Gandhi while he had been living here.  

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Gandhi had begun his freedom struggle and historical ‘Dundee foot walk’ from here on March 12 of 1930 protesting the Salt Law of the English ruler. Gandhi reached Dundee village of Cumby gulf along with 79 ‘Satya grahis’ after travelling 390 kilometers in 24 days.

Next on April 6 he produced salt after boiling sea water protesting the black laws of the British rulers. The Indian Independencemovement got momentum from this great foot walk.

   

Hamas says 'yes' to Gaza ceasefire



International Desk, Barta24.com, Dhaka
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Hamas has accepted a ceasefire proposal brokered by Qatar and Egypt. But so far nothing has been reported from Israel in this regard. They are looking into the matter.

On Monday (May 6), Qatar-based media Al Jazeera reported this information.

According to a statement by Hamas leader Ismail Haniya, the head of Hamas' political wing, Ismail Haniya, called Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and informed him that Hamas had approved the proposal for a ceasefire agreement. Ismail Hania also said the same thing to the Minister of Intelligence of Egypt, Abbas Kamal.

Meanwhile, the residents of Gaza expressed joy at the news of Hamas agreeing to a ceasefire.

It should be noted that at least 34 thousand 737 people have been killed and 78 thousand 108 people have been injured in the Israeli attack on Gaza since October 7. And the number of dead in Israel is 1 thousand 139 people.

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Campuses can be battlegrounds around graduation ceremonies in the United States



International Desk, Barta24.com,Dhaka
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Protests against the Israeli attack on Gaza have erupted in several US universities. The student protests there have entered their second week. Last Saturday (May 4), police arrested at least 25 more pro-Palestinian protesters from the University of Virginia.

Al-Jazeera reported that more than two and a half thousand students have been arrested from campuses across the United States. In the meantime, graduation ceremony in universities is approaching.

It is feared that various university campuses in the United States may turn into battlefields around graduation ceremonies in the coming days.

At 47 US universities, students are protesting against Israeli aggression and genocide in Gaza. This protest has been going on since April 17. Since the beginning, the police have used excessive force to suppress this peaceful protest.

In this way, the rights activists protested the suppression of the protest and the arrest of the protesting students. They demanded to ensure the freedom of expression of the students.

Graduation ceremonies are scheduled for the end of this week at four universities hit by protests. The event is scheduled to take place this month or next June at several other universities, including New York's Columbia University, the epicenter of the protests.

The university authorities fear that the protesting students may disrupt the graduation ceremony. For this reason, the authorities are taking initiatives to strengthen the security system.

The protesting students have threatened that if their demands are not met, they are thinking of alternative programs including boycotting these events and walking out of the venue. In such circumstances, some universities have canceled these programs. Some are procrastinating.

The peaceful protests at the University of Virginia continued until Saturday morning. At that time a video spread among the students. In the video, police are seen detaining some protesting students from the campus lawn.

Apart from this, the police are using chemical sprays to quell the protests. After that the protest turned into a riot.

In a statement, University President Jim Ryan said that the protesters were detained when campus security informed the police that they would be protesting in tents last Friday night. However, it is not clear how many university students are among those detained.

Pro-Palestinians protest in front of the stage at the graduation ceremony at the University of Michigan. But this protest was peaceful. Campus police quickly surrounded the protesters and escorted them to the back of the stadium. But dozens of students dressed in flags, kaffiahs and graduation caps staged a university graduation ceremony.

A day later, Northeastern University and Ohio State University were supposed to hold the closing ceremony on Sunday, but the commencement ceremony was disrupted.

Meanwhile, apart from the United States, this protest has now spread to new countries. Students from France, UK, Italy, Australia, Canada, Japan, India, Lebanon, Germany, Switzerland, Ireland and Mexico have come to protest for the Palestinians.

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Israel launched a ground attack in Rafah amid ceasefire talks



International Desk, Barta24.com, Dhaka
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Israel launched a ground attack in Rafah in the midst of Israel-Hamas ceasefire talks in Gaza.

A delegation from the Palestinian group Hamas is in the Egyptian capital for ceasefire and prisoner-release talks. Sources said Ceasefire talks have progressed.

International media Al Jazeera reported in a report that despite the negotiations, Israel continued its ground attack on Rafah, the southernmost city of Gaza.

A Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo on Saturday to meet with mediators from Qatar, Egypt and the United States to negotiate a 40-day ceasefire, according to reports published by the United Kingdom.

The talks are at a critical stage, sources told Al Jazeera, as a Qatari technical team is working out the details of a potential deal with the Egyptians.

As technical teams indicate, we are moving into the operational side of a deal. They are monitoring the issues in detail in this agreement.

A senior Hamas spokesman, Osama Hamdan, told Al Jazeera, "It is clear that we are moving forward. There are some good points.

"So far we are still talking about the main issue, which is a complete ceasefire and a complete withdrawal from Gaza," he said. We hope to find some good and positive answers today.

Israel said it will continue to attack Rafah despite talk of a possible deal with Hamas. UN agencies and aid groups have long warned that the ground operation would spell disaster for the 15 lakh people taking refuge there.

Hamdan said, "Unfortunately, Netanyahu has made a clear statement that no matter what happens, if there is a ceasefire or not, he will continue to attack." That means there will be no ceasefire, and that means that the offensive will continue.

Al Jazeera's Ahlbara said the talks were focused on convincing Hamas that it should refrain from demanding a permanent ceasefire from Israel during the first phase of the deal because it is unlikely to happen.

On October 7, Hamas fighters attacked southern Israel, killing more than 1,100 people. During this time, more than 240 people were captured by Hamas.

Later, more than 34,600 Palestinians have died in Israel's attack on Gaza. More than 70 percent of Palestinian territory has been reduced to rubble, pushing the region toward famine.

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Attacks on environmental journalists are on the rise worldwide: UN



News Desk, Barta24.com
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According to a recently published report by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO, 44 environmental journalists from 15 countries around the world lost their lives in violent attacks from 2009 to 2023; And 24 people managed to return alive.

This information was reported in the report of the news agency Reuters on Friday (May 3).

According to the report, attacks on environmental journalists are increasing around the world. UNESCO representatives interviewed 905 environmental journalists from 129 countries to prepare the report.

In the interview, 749 out of 905 journalists (more than 70 percent) said that they had to face physical attacks or intimidation, threats, and pressure at some point in their lives to perform their professional duties. Many have also had to deal with the legal problems of detention and defamation cases.

Analyzing the cases of assault-harassment, it has been found that the cases of physical assault have occurred more among male journalists. On the other hand, women journalists are more victims of harassment.

Journalists have been attacked and harassed while reporting on various environmental issues. These issues include various mining irregularities, land tenure conflicts, deforestation, extreme weather related disasters, pollution and environmental damage, fossil fuel sector and its trade etc.

All of these attacks and harassment have come from individuals and groups associated with the power structure of the state. In this context, the UNESCO report said, 'Police, army, government officials and employees, people of local government authorities are responsible for these attacks and harassment. 

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