The Gandhi Bhawan is a major landmark of the city of

Chandigarh Chandigarh is a city and union territory in northern India, serving as the shared capital of the states of Punjab and Haryana. Situated near the foothills of the Shivalik range of Himalayas, it borders Haryana to the east and Punjab in the ...

, India, and a center dedicated to the study of the words and works of Mohandas K. Gandhi. It was designed by architects B.P Mathur in collaboration with Pierre Jeanneret.

Design

It is an auditorium hall that sits in the middle of a pond of water. A

mural A mural is any piece of Graphic arts, graphic artwork that is painted or applied directly to a wall, ceiling or other permanent substrate. Mural techniques include fresco, mosaic, graffiti and marouflage. Word mural in art The word ''mural'' ...

by the architect greets visitors at the entry. The words "Truth is God" are written at the entrance. Today, it also houses a substantial collection of books on Mohandas Gandhi. The Gandhi Bhawan's three-part, pinwheel plan, abstract sculptural qualities, and fluid use of planes reflect the modern vision of the International Style. The merging of sharp, brusque angles with lyrical curves recalls the linear tensions of the ancient Sanskrit alphabet. The pools surrounding the building evoke Mughal tombs, some of which were similarly laid out on terraces surrounded by water, as well as the ritual bathing pools of Hindu Temples. Yet the abstract style does not convey any specific religious connotations.

References

{{coord, 15.9855639, 74.662751, display=title, format=dms Gandhism Buildings and structures in Chandigarh Tourist attractions in Chandigarh Memorials to Mahatma Gandhi Gandhi museums