Indore (Madhya Pradesh): Kasturba village of Indore has been practising Gandhiji's teachings from the past 70 years. The village's mark of Gandhian philosophy is clearly visible in the progressive child development, development of women, organic farming, environment, and other factors.
Everyone is remembering Bapu on his 72nd death anniversary and people all over the country have been gathering to offer him tribute. Kasturba Gandhi National Memorial Trust has been set up long before the independence, by Gandhiji himself. The trust works towards women empowerment in the village and conducts developmental programs.
The girl students and the women residing here who are learning and progressing towards their career has to spin yarn daily. From the president of Kasturba village and to the people residing here has to spin the yarn for half an hour minimum. From ancient spinning wheels known as charkha, they have the modern version of charkha too. Clothes for school uniforms and clothes for the hospitals are made from the yarns spun here.
According to Gandhiji's vision, a place for farming is allotted separately in the Kasturba village, where conservation of biodiversity is done and improvised seeds are developed. Different methods of organic farming have been discovered over here. The students of various agricultural universities visit here to learn the art of organic farming.
In the year 1944 Gandhiji established the Kasturba Gandhi National Memorial Trust after the death of Kasturba Gandhi. For a few days this Seva gram was located in Wardha and then in 1958 got established in Khandwa Road in Indore.
It is said that the Anganwadi concept has been adopted by the government from the Kasturba village, where the focus is kept on the development of the children at a very young age. The village workers are trained first and then they later focus on the village cleanliness, health and education of girl child and the government adopted this concept too.
In the Kasturba Gandhi photo exhibition located in Indore, rare photos of Gandhiji are kept. Gandhiji's footwear, ash, coal of his 'Chitta', his blood slide, his hand-woven shawl and, his handwoven cloth is exhibited in the prayer hall.
