Ramathilagam, Principal District and Sessions Judge, handing over certificate to one of the persons who completed service at Gandhi Ashram, Tiruchengode, on Thursday. V. Dakshinamoorthy, Namakkal Collector, is also in the picture. PHOTO: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

A group of 46 residents of Samichettipatti village in Dharmapuri district,who were found to be involved in a group clash over ownership of a temple, underwenta three-week-long training in service and mind concentration at Gandhi Ashram, Tiruchengode as per a Madras High Court directive.

The Madras High Court, while granting conditional bail last month, directed them to spendthree weeks at the ashram, according to ashram sources. As per the High Court direction, all 46 arrived at the ashram on December 19. S. Aravamudhan, vice-president of Gandhi Ashram, received them and explained theuniqueness of the ashram and its functioning. K. Piramuthu and L. Chinnasamy, bothemployed with the ashram, taught them inter-religious prayer and songs hailing motherTamil.

The villagers underwent training in weaving, making ofsoap and paper files, and packing agarbathis, apart from attending special sessions for mind concentration.

K. Lakshmikanthan Bharathi, former IAS officer and president of the Gandhi Ashram,and K. Sinnusamy, its secretary, at one of the sessions explained thesufferings underwent by the freedom fighters for freeing the country from the clutches ofBritish rule.The valediction of the training programme was held at the ashram on Thursday, whenRamathilagam, Principal District and Sessions Judge, gave away the completion certificates.

Mrs. Ramathilagam said that she too will send people seeking bail to serve at the ashram. V. Dakshinamoorthy, Namakkal District Collector, was present.

All the villagers expressed their happiness at getting an opportunity to spend three weeksat Gandhi Ashram. The ashram was established in Tiruchengode by the late Rajaji in 1925 to serve the country on the lines indicated by Gandhiji.

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46 involved in clash undergo training at ashram