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Providing Service, Building Strength & Creating Knowledge for Rural Communities through Gandhian Constructive Programme  

ORGANISATION>Location

OrganisationHealth Services EducationVillage IndustriesWelfare Activities Village Extension Work


  
Guesthouse and Training Centre



Class under the trees


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A scene from Gandhigram with the Sirumalai in the background
Gandhigram is located in the rain shadow valley between the Sirumalai Hills on the east and Kodai hills on the west. It is situated on the National Highway (NH-7) between the towns of Dindigul and Madurai at about 11kms. from Dindigul town. It is also close to the railway line between Chennai and Madurai, situated about 1km from the Ambathurai railway station. The institution is spread over a vast area consisting of the Trust, its offices, its various divisions, the rural university, guest houses and staff quarters.
It was while searching for a suitable location for the rural institution all over Tamilnadu that Dr. Soundram was approached by Sri. Laghumaiya, a landlord from Chinallampatti. He wanted her to take a look at place available on the shadow of the Sirumalai Hills. While looking at various options in and around Madurai, Dr. Soundram also made it to Chinnalappatti, and immediately liked the place.
Gandhigram Entrance
When she consulted with others, an objection was raised that the area was between the hills and east of the railway track and one may have to cross the tracks too frequently, the determined Laghumaiya promptly requested them to also look at the location west of the railway track. There was no question of the place being not available, he owned most of it and donated the land for the institution. Once the location was decided upon he convinced his village people to donate further land and in all about 125 acres of land was donated to the institution by the villagers. He even donated a house of his to be used by the Trust till they could have their own buildings.


Majestic Pipal outside weaving unit
Laghumaiya and Chinnalappatti had their tryst with the Father of the Nation earlier, when in January 1946 during Gandhiji's travel to Madurai, they manipulated the railway signal at Ambathurai station to make an un-scheduled stop for the train so that they could all get to meet Gandhiji. Today, a small plaque stands close to the railway line, where the train was stopped. And all around this place has sprung the Gandhigram institutions.