Ahmedabad, 17 September 2014

Chinese President Xi Ping today visited Sabarmati Gandhi ashram in Ahmedabad. Prime Minister Narendra Modi left hotel Grand Hyatt in advance to reach Gandhi ashram to receive him here. Shri Modi was on leg with Chief Minister, state Home Secretary and others for over around 15 minutes. Later Chinese Prime Minister arrived in a black Mercedes car. Shri Modi welcomed Chinese President by offering him khadi garland. Chief Minister Anandiben also offered khadi garland to Xi Jinping. Thus Jinping had two garlands over his neck. Jinping’s security staff offered to take away the garlands, but Jinping insisted to continue to wear them, and throughout his visit to ashram he didn’t remove it.

Shri Modi took Jinping who was wearing Khadi jacket to Ahmedabad gallery of ashram. He personally guided Chinese President and narrated the details of various panels featuring Mahatma Gandhi’s years in Gujarat.

Shri Modi and Jinping walked together and offered flowers to Mahatma Gandhi’s statue jointly. They later moved to steps leading to Sabarmati riverfront. Shri Modi showed Jinping the riverfront park where their next engagement was scheduled. Shri Modi also narrated some details of the riverfront development. A lady translator with Chinese president and Indian translator with Mr. Modi were at help of both leaders.

Through Prarthana bhoomi, they both moved to Hriday Kunj, Gandhiji’s home in ashram. Both leaders sat on floor and jointly operated charkha(spinning wheel). Later Modi took Jinping to inside portion of Hriday kunj and shower him each and every room including Gandhiji’s room which is located on frontal side. Shri Modi presented a copy of year 1908 felicitation letter presented to Mahatma Gandhi by Chinese community at Johannesburg to Chinese president in a frame. He gifted “Gandhiji in Ahmedabad” book to Chinese president and a painting featuring Dandi march. He also presented a spinning wheel box. Modi also presented a few small boxes and narrated the details of each gift to Jinping. Shri Modi gifted Gita book in Chinese to Chinese President.Shri Modi and Jinping sat on floor again in open porch. Later Shri Modi left the ashram to reach Sabarmati riverfront to receive Chinese President, while Jinping passed spent little more time in ashram conversing to minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama(in-charge of this part of Jinping’s visit) and state Home Secretary Nanda.

Official note by state government:

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.