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Gandhi Bhavan is a venue for many public meetings on Gandhian values throughout the year. The premise by itself is very serene; with placards bearing Gandhi's quotes hanging on its walls. What began as the Gandhi Smaraka Nidhi (GSN) under the chairmanship of the then President, Dr Rajendra Prasad after the death of Mahatma Gandhi, aimed at spreading Gandhian thinking and ideals among youth. As such Gandhi Bhavans spurted across the country in the 1950s. Today each State has a Gandhi Smaraka Nidhi centre. According to S K Mohan, Secretary of the Karnataka Gandhi Smaraka Nidhi, was set up with an aim to establish schools and leprosy centres all over the country.
It houses other Gandhian institutions like the Harijan Sewak Sangh, Gandhi Peace Foundation, Gandhi Picture Museum, Gandhi and National Literature Library and also a publication wing on Gandhian literature. Books on Gandhi and his work in both Kannada and English languages are sold here. The Bhavan organises regular lectures and seminars on Gandhian values in addition to those on various national movements. The Bhavan also conducts examinations for high school students in Kannada. Its library is a valuable resource centre for students doing research on Gandhi and the National Movement. Every year, special programmes are held here on October 2, to mark Gandhi Jayanthi. Located adjacent to the Gandhi Bhavan is the Khadi Bhavan where Khadi and other village industry products are sold at reasonable prices |