Udyog Mandir
Udyog Mandir was a laboratory to implement Gandhiji’s economic ideology. The charakha (spinning-wheel) was at the centre of Gandhiji’s fight for swaraj. This is where ‘Khadi-nomics’ was invented. Volunteers from across the country came here to be trained to promote and spread the mantra “sutar na tantne swarajya” which meant self-rule or Swaraj through yarn. During the historical strike of the mill workers in Ahmedabad in 1918; the workers and Ashram residents laid the foundations of this building using the sand from the banks of the river sabarmati. The mill-workers thus found work and employment for a time. This is a symbol of their diligence, independence and pride. Gandhiji initially stayed in a small room to the left, for this was the first building constructed at the Ashram. The All India Technical Institute, All India Spinners Association, and All India Charakha Federation, also began from this building. Weaving, working the slotted handloom, beating on combing of cotton, were all performed in this courtyard. For half an hour each morning, Gandhiji would come to card clean or card cotton on the carding device in this building.
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