Rashtriya Shala

Rashtriya Shala is an educational institution in Rajkot, Gujarat, India, set up in 1921 on about 66 acres and linked with the Gandhian freedom movement. It was founded during the non-cooperation period, when national schools were created as alternatives to colonial-run education, and it reflects the ideals of self-reliance, simple living and national service associated with Gandhi. For visitors, the attraction is largely historical and atmospheric: a long-established campus with older buildings, open grounds and a sense of the early twentieth-century independence era in Saurashtra. Because it functions as an institution, interior access is by permission, and school hours govern when visitors can walk the grounds. Most people view the buildings and grounds from the entrance and, where allowed, take a short walk through the campus, spending about thirty minutes. The site is free to view. It is best visited on a weekday morning when staff are available to give permission and the grounds are calm, and the cool months from November to February are the most comfortable. Holidays and weekends may limit access. Photography of buildings and grounds is usually acceptable from public areas, but visitors should avoid photographing students and ask before entering buildings. The campus is about five minutes by auto-rickshaw from Dhebar Road, so it fits easily into a Gandhi-themed outing that includes Kaba Gandhi No Delo and the Mahatma Gandhi Museum at Alfred High School. Together, the three sites show different facets of how Rajkot shaped, and was shaped by, the freedom movement. Visitors should dress modestly, speak respectfully with staff and check the current access arrangements locally, since opening conditions can change.