Kirti Mandir, Porbandar
Encyclopedia
Kirti Mandir is the memorial temple built in memory of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi and Kasturba Gandhi
located in city of Porbandar
, Gujarat, India
.
by the British Government, the residential public of Porbandar had decided to construct an ideal memorial on the birth palace of Mahatmaji. At that time, organization of the project was accomplished by the intensive efforts of the easrtwhile Maharaja of Porbandar, H.H. Maharana Shri Natavarsinhji, and Raj Ratna
Shri Nanjibhai Kalidas Mehta
and his wife, Smt. Santokbehn Mehta. Before the foundation of the Kirti Mandir was started, the adjacent ancestral house was purchased from those members of the Gandhian family who were living in it. Mahatmaji himself, on his own part had given his consent to Nanjibhai in writing, with legal documents for the sale of the whole building. He had signed with his own hand the registration papers, which are displayed at a museum room in Kirti Mandir Complex.The ancestral house, as such, now forms a part of Kriti Mandir complex.
, purchased by the great grand father of Mahatmaji, Shri Harjivan Raidas Gandhi, some two hundred years before, in the seventeenth century, from a local woman and the upper stories were added over the years. It was this house where Gandhiji's father Karamchand, uncle, Tulsidas and grandfather Uttamchand lived, who had all been Prime Ministers (Dewan
) to the Jethwa
Rajput
rulers of the princely state of Porbandar.
The foundation stone of modern structure and attractive Kirti Mandir was laid in 1947 during the lifetime of Gandhiji by Shree Darbar Gopaldas Desai. The whole credit of constructing this national memorial of Mahatma Gandhiji goes to the famous industrialist, Nanjibahi Kalidas Mehta
, who not only initiated the idea to build a memorial but also donated the whole money purchase the ancestral house and also to build new complex called Kirti Mandir.
The memorial was completed in 1950, by which time Gandhiji was no more. The memorial was named Kirti Mandir and then Home Minister, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
inaugurated and declared open this place for public on May 27, 1950. Afterwards this beautiful memorial was handed over to the Central Government of India.
The height of the temple is of 79 feet symbolizes the 79 years of lifespan of Gandhiji. The monument Kirti Mandir is symbol of religious integration of six religions, the architectural elements of Hindu
, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi
temple, Church and Mosque
are symbolized at Kirti Mandir integrate, which symbolize Gandhiji’s respect towards all religion.
The whole the architecture of the Kirti Mandir was done by Shri Prushottambhai Mistry, a resident of Porbandar. He completed construction within two years of time limit by working for days and night himself.
On the right side there are two rooms as the memorials of Shri Maganlal Gandhi
and Shri Mahadev Desai
, and the room on the left hand side is meant for the exhibition of the museum. These three rooms contain articles of khadibhandar, things of handi-craft, the centre is for the sale of books, the office-room and the reception hall. Kasturba-Mahila Library situated in the Kirtimandir is an international institution.
The Kirti Mandir is main tourist attraction of the town. As well many foreign dignitaries and Indian politicians visit Kirti Mandir, which houses the ancestral house and birth place of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. The place where Gandhiji was born is marked with a Swastika
for identification.
Kasturba Gandhi
Kastürbā Gāndhi was the wife of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, marrying him in an arranged marriage in 1883.-Early life and background:...
located in city of Porbandar
Porbandar
Porbandar is a coastal city in the Indian state of Gujarat, perhaps best known for being the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi and Sudama...
, Gujarat, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
Background
The ancestral house of Gandhi family, where Mahatma Gandhi was born on 2nd October, 1869 is just adjacent to the Kirti Mandir. At the time when Gandhiji was released for the last time in year 1944 from the Aga Khan PalaceAga Khan Palace
The Aga Khan Palace was built in the year 1892 by Sultan Muhammed Shah, Aga Khan III in Pune. Since then it is one of the biggest landmarks in Indian history...
by the British Government, the residential public of Porbandar had decided to construct an ideal memorial on the birth palace of Mahatmaji. At that time, organization of the project was accomplished by the intensive efforts of the easrtwhile Maharaja of Porbandar, H.H. Maharana Shri Natavarsinhji, and Raj Ratna
Raj Ratna
Raj Ratna / Raj Ratan / Rajya Ratna , was a highest title of honor or civilian award, which was prevalent in Princely India during British Raj. Such title were given by rulers of mostly Hindu Princely States of India to distinguished citizens of their kingdom...
Shri Nanjibhai Kalidas Mehta
Nanji Kalidas Mehta
Nanji Kalidas Mehta was an Industrialist and Philanthropist from Gujarat. He was founded the Mehta Group of Industries in Uganda, now having its head office in India.-Lifesketch:...
and his wife, Smt. Santokbehn Mehta. Before the foundation of the Kirti Mandir was started, the adjacent ancestral house was purchased from those members of the Gandhian family who were living in it. Mahatmaji himself, on his own part had given his consent to Nanjibhai in writing, with legal documents for the sale of the whole building. He had signed with his own hand the registration papers, which are displayed at a museum room in Kirti Mandir Complex.The ancestral house, as such, now forms a part of Kriti Mandir complex.
History
The original three storied house is built like a HaveliHaveli
Haveli is the term used for a private mansion in India and Pakistan. The word haveli is derived from the Persian word hawli, meaning "an enclosed place"...
, purchased by the great grand father of Mahatmaji, Shri Harjivan Raidas Gandhi, some two hundred years before, in the seventeenth century, from a local woman and the upper stories were added over the years. It was this house where Gandhiji's father Karamchand, uncle, Tulsidas and grandfather Uttamchand lived, who had all been Prime Ministers (Dewan
Dewan
The originally Persian title of dewan has, at various points in Islamic history, designated various differing though similar functions.-Etymology:...
) to the Jethwa
Jethwa
Jethwa is a name of a Kshatriya, Rajput clan that claim descent from Makardhwaja son of Lord Hanuman who appears in the Hindu epic Ramayana...
Rajput
Rajput
A Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...
rulers of the princely state of Porbandar.
The foundation stone of modern structure and attractive Kirti Mandir was laid in 1947 during the lifetime of Gandhiji by Shree Darbar Gopaldas Desai. The whole credit of constructing this national memorial of Mahatma Gandhiji goes to the famous industrialist, Nanjibahi Kalidas Mehta
Nanji Kalidas Mehta
Nanji Kalidas Mehta was an Industrialist and Philanthropist from Gujarat. He was founded the Mehta Group of Industries in Uganda, now having its head office in India.-Lifesketch:...
, who not only initiated the idea to build a memorial but also donated the whole money purchase the ancestral house and also to build new complex called Kirti Mandir.
The memorial was completed in 1950, by which time Gandhiji was no more. The memorial was named Kirti Mandir and then Home Minister, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Vallabhbhai Jhaverbhai Patel was an Indian barrister and statesman, one of the leaders of the Indian National Congress and one of the founding fathers of India...
inaugurated and declared open this place for public on May 27, 1950. Afterwards this beautiful memorial was handed over to the Central Government of India.
The height of the temple is of 79 feet symbolizes the 79 years of lifespan of Gandhiji. The monument Kirti Mandir is symbol of religious integration of six religions, the architectural elements of Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi
Parsi
Parsi or Parsee refers to a member of the larger of the two Zoroastrian communities in South Asia, the other being the Irani community....
temple, Church and Mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
are symbolized at Kirti Mandir integrate, which symbolize Gandhiji’s respect towards all religion.
The whole the architecture of the Kirti Mandir was done by Shri Prushottambhai Mistry, a resident of Porbandar. He completed construction within two years of time limit by working for days and night himself.
The memorial today
There are life size oil paintings of Mahatma Gandhi and Kasturba are kept side by side in center of Kirti Mandir. Gandhiji wanted that he should not be made a God, and so keeping his wishes floral garlands are not used. The auspicious words, ‘The Truth’ and ‘Non-violence’, symbolizing his life and preachings are placed near their feet.On the right side there are two rooms as the memorials of Shri Maganlal Gandhi
Maganlal Gandhi
Maganlal Gandhi was a follower of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. Grandson of an uncle of the Mahatma, he died of typhoid at Patna on 23 April 1928....
and Shri Mahadev Desai
Mahadev Desai
Mahadev Desai was an Indian independence activist and nationalist writer; he was most famously known for being the personal secretary of Mahatma Gandhi.-Career:...
, and the room on the left hand side is meant for the exhibition of the museum. These three rooms contain articles of khadibhandar, things of handi-craft, the centre is for the sale of books, the office-room and the reception hall. Kasturba-Mahila Library situated in the Kirtimandir is an international institution.
The Kirti Mandir is main tourist attraction of the town. As well many foreign dignitaries and Indian politicians visit Kirti Mandir, which houses the ancestral house and birth place of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. The place where Gandhiji was born is marked with a Swastika
Swastika
The swastika is an equilateral cross with its arms bent at right angles, in either right-facing form in counter clock motion or its mirrored left-facing form in clock motion. Earliest archaeological evidence of swastika-shaped ornaments dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization of Ancient...
for identification.