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CASE-STUDY OF BAPU KUTI – MAHATMA
GANDHI’S HOME IN SEWAGRAM
Ayush Srivastava and Shashi Shekhar Singh Department of Civil Engineering, MVN University,
Palwal, Haryana, India,
ABSTRACT
In early 1936, Gandhiji expressed his wish to make his residence in a village after leaving Sabarmati Ashram. On 30th April, 1936 Gandhiji shifted his residence to Segaon village. This work shows the construction technology used for Gandhiji’s home along with its historical and social importance. The house was built under the condition, put forth by Mahatma Gandhi, that the overall cost should not exceed 500 rupees (for Bapu Kuti). As per the study of Bapu Kuti, we figured out that it has been engineered as earthquake resistant, cyclonic resistant, storm resistant, thermal insulated and follows sun-diagram.
Key words: Sewagram, Adi Nivas, Bapu Kuti, Bapu’s Office, Ba Kuti and Akhiri Nivas.
Cite this Article: Srivastava, A. and Singh, S. S.. Case-Study of Bapu Kuti – Mahatma Gandhi’s Home in Sewagram. International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology, 6(7), 2015, pp. 53-60.
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1. INTRODUCTION
construction of a small h KUTI’. Another hut ‘AKH of Jamnalalji.
2. CASE-STUDY
Figu
2.1. Adi Nivas
Gandhiji wrote to Jamna construction of a hut for hi live alone in a hut in Se expenses as possible shou exceed Rupees One Hun Segaon. Whenever necess whatever vehicle I can get.
The hut which was bu NIVAS’ [2] after his dem per Bapu’s desire, were th a special type of locally
hut for her near ‘BAPU KUTI’ which was KHIRI NIVAS’ is built near ‘BAPU KUTI’ fo
ure 1 Map Showing Sewagram Ashram [1]
nalalji Bajaj on 19th March, 1936 about his his residence. “If Ba desires then with her, oth
Segaon. Meeraben’s hut may not suffice for ould be incurred in building the hut and in no undred. Whatever help I might need, I shou
ssary I should have to visit Maganwadi. For et.”
Figure 2 Adi Nivas
built according to Gandhiji’s instructions was n mise. The materials used for the construction the locally available low cost building materia ly available mud called as ‘Garhi Mitti’, Ba
as called as ‘BA for the residence
his ideas on the therwise I would for me. As little no case should it ould obtain from r that I may use
Sagavan woods; wheat-hu range of not more than 7 artisans with the help of lo be Rupees Five Hundred a
The foundation of th in summers as well as war entrances. This gives prop the south-eastern corner a which ensures sunlight in sitting arrangements were northern sides which ensu people sitting there. The piles. Wooden chhajjas w which provided spaces to k
Figure 3 (a) interio 2.2. Bapu Kuti and Bap Initially Meeraben had con spinning to villagers. This rush in Adi Nivas increase
husk, cow-dung, etc. which were collected 75 kilometers radius. The hut was constructe local Ahramites. The cost of construction of th
after its completion.
this hut was constructed by using black sto s were arranged in desired layout as per their a
he foundation were constructed by using mo dung and wheat-husk with substantial amoun f Adi Nivas is of about twelve inches. Over ork made by sagawan and bamboo. The who ension to the structure that makes it earthquak amboo, mats and mud-tiles. The materials property of thermal insulation that makes the s
armer in winters. It has verandah on all the si oper ventilation to the structure. A bathroom is
r and a kitchen is constructed on the in the respective rooms throughout the day. re made in the verandah present in the easter sures diffused sunlight in the daytime ensuring e roof in the verandah openings were suppor were constructed by using bamboos that hung
o keep the articles on them.
rior view, (b) bath tub installed in bathroom of Adi apu’s Office
onstructed a small hut for her to stay and to tea his hut is about 75 feet on the north of Adi N ased, it was difficult for Gandhiji to continue h
it. Therefore, it was decide Varun Village nearby for h
Meeraben’s original h bathroom, a guest room a moved into it. Bapu woul used to teach carding and window near his seat for li to have Bapu’s Darshan (to was widened to make mor leaves was put up on the overhead which was move the front and back sides by Gandhiji put forward h should cost maximum of construction of this hut s radius from the site of con ahramites. Third, one sho Numerous architects cam Gandhaji’s desired condit designed his hut on the bas of construction of this hut
In these huts, the meth as that of ‘Adi Nivas’. Th over the foundation were to be constructed were ta desired dimensions. The f over the foundation in fo wheat husk was made and up to six inches thick. T framework acted as reinfo day shear walls. Space wa passage of light into inter were similar to that of the
ided that Bapu should shift to Meeraben’s hut a r herself.
Figure 4 Bapu Kuti
hut was very small. The northern verandah and an entrance on western side were added uld sit in the corner of northern room which nd spinning. Later on iron mesh and glass wer r light and safety from rains. This window also (to see Bapu) from outside without disturbing h
ore space for visitors. A local variety of curtain the door and at times of rains. A cloth fan
ved to and fro by Bapu’s secretary sitting in s by the help of a rope.
his three desires before construction of this hu of Rupees five hundred only. Second, the m t should be brought from not more than twe onstruction and should be constructed by the lo
hould get direct view of sky from anywhere me from all over the world to construct the ditions but were unable to do so. At last Ga
asis of his own conditions and it was found th ut came to be 499 Rupees and 50 paise.
thod used for the construction of foundation wa The foundation was made up using stones such e constructed in a different way. The dimensi taken and a grid framework of bamboo wa e framework was fixed into the ground with t form of wall. Now, a mixture of garhi mitti, nd was applied on the both sides of the framew . This gave a proper suspension to the wall nforcement and the wall thus constructed is ju
as left on the top side so as to provide proper teriors. Construction of roof and verandah of
e technology used in the ‘Adi Nivas’.
Figure 5 (a), (b) Pictures s roof as seen from interiors, ( his activit
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
s showing the arrangement of sagawan woods and b (c) Picture showing the Northern room where Gan vities, (d) Picture showing the layout of the wall
As per Bapu’s require So, there was verandah i north, east and west sides. where Bapu used to sit Kasturba. Room on the so was toilet-cum-bathroom a To the north-eastern perform all his official wo and Rajkumari Amrit Ka construction of this hut is e
2.3. Ba Kuti
Kasturba had to suffer man in ‘Adi Nivas’ and later Jamnalalji, the constructio was then built is called as inmates and sometimes wi The construction techn as that of ‘Adi Nivas’.
irements, large space for visitors was not need in north and east sides only. Entrances wer s. There are three rooms in total in this hut. No it and perform his activities. Middle room
south side had a partition in middle. On one s and on the other side was Gandhiji’s hospital. n side of ‘Bapu Kuti’ is ‘Bapu’s office’. Ga orks here. His associates like Mahadevbhai D aur used to sit here. The construction techn is exactly same as that of ‘Bapu Kuti’.
Figure 6 Bapu’s Office
any inconveniences while living in the midst o r on in ‘Bapu Kuti’. Bapu consented on the tion of a small hut for her near ‘Bapu Kuti’. as “BA KUTI”. Kasturba lived in this hut with with occasional women guests.
hnology used for construction of this hut is ex
Figure 7 Ba Kuti
eeded in this hut. ere there on the Northern room is was made for side of partition al.
Gandhiji used to Desai, Pyarelalji hnology used in
t of so many men he persuasion of ’. The hut which ith a few women
2.4. Akhiri Nivas This hut was built near Ba live near Bapu, but it could this hut was used as a t occassionally. In 1946 du days. He used to have sun comprises the properties resistance, thermal insulati Bamboo frame is used for and cow dung which provi day shearing wall. The ov materials thereby making the huts has been attributed
Use of mortar made up of thermal insulation.
A further study of th kitchens or hospital has b sunlight, which is required Gandhiji with the visito Construction of verandahs sunlight as per the require northern, eastern and west huts has been in accordanc
The roofs of the huts a and storm resistance prop directions.
Bapu Kuti for the residence of Jamnalalji. He uld not materialise. Guests used to live here. In treatment centre for villagers. Gandhiji als due to cough and cold Gandhiji stayed in thi
unbath in the eastern verandah to get rid of c hut was such that it had verandah on eastern uction was also based on the construction tech
Figure 8 Akhiri Nivas
the adapted construction technology in ‘Sewa ies of earthquake resistance, cyclonic res ation and is constructed in accordance with the for the construction of the walls along with mu
vides suspension to the structure and this wall overall construction pattern uses light weighe
g the hut light in weight. The earthquake resi ted to the above reasons.
up of mud, wheat husk and cow dung develo
the Ashram shows that in most of the hut been constructed in the south direction. This red in such rooms. Verandahs served as the me itors and as well as the waiting place fo
hs in the northern, eastern and western sides en irements. Most of the entrances of the huts w stern directions. These facts prove that the con nce with the sun-diagram.
s are constructed using pitched roofing techno roperty of the structure is due to pitched roo
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
On our visit to Sewagram Ashram Mr. Pradeep Dixit, Swadeshi Gram, Rajiv Dixit Memorial Swadeshi Utthan Sanstha, Sewagram, helped us arranging visits to the Ashram along with providing the necessary details of the Ashram throughout the project completion. We would also like to thank Mr. Prabhakar Atram, Malti Tai and all other dignitaries present in the Ashram to guide us and co-operate for completion of the project.
REFERENCES
[1] Mahatma Gandhi, Sewagram Ashram (An introduction to Sewagram Ashram established by Mahatma Gandhi and its Message), Sewagram, Wardha: Sewagram Ashram Pratishthan.
[2] Illich, I. The Message of Bapu’s Hut. Sewagram, Wardha: Sewagram Ashram Pratishthan.
