Motihari, Oct. 1: The Gandhi Sangrahalaya is in for a major facelift ahead of the centenary year celebration of the Champaran Satyagraha. The plan entails construction of an auditorium, a library and a guesthouse. The first consignment of books for the library worth Rs 1 lakh has already arrived and will be up for public use on October 2.

"The remaining consignment of books on Mahatma Gandhi's life and philosophy written by eminent writers of the world worth Rs 2 lakh will reach the library before December this year," said secretary of Gandhi Sangrahalaya Braj Kishore Singh. The library of the centre would cater to the requirement of residents and research scholars from India and abroad, Singh added.

The decision to add new facilities at the Sangrahalaya was taken by Singh after which the state government came forward with financial support.

"The double-storied building of the auditorium, conference hall, library and guesthouse will be constructed with an funds of Rs 2.75 crore for which the art, culture and youth affairs department will provide funds in October," Singh said.

The guest house and conference hall of this upcoming auditorium will be run on a "no profit-no loss" basis and a very nominal for maintenance of the building will be realised from those who use the facility, said the secretary.

A large sized-map of places where Mahatma Gandhi had visited during his Champaran struggle in 1917 has also been carved out on the walls of Gandhi Sangrahalaya to raise awareness and help research scholars conscious of the important places related to the Champaran movement.

Chandrahiya, Madhubani Ashram, Barharwa Lakhansen, Madhuban, Jasaulipatti, Bishunpurwa (now in East Champaran) and Bhitiharwa, Brindavan, Sirsia, Laukariya, Bettiah town (in West Champaran) are among the prominent places where Gandhi visited in 1917 and 1918 during his Champaran visit.

The present Gandhi Sangrahalaya is situated at the same place where Bapu had given his historical statement in the court of then SDO and declined to leave Champaran on the order of the district administration. Gandhi had made his historical statement in the SDO's court saying: "I have disregarded the order served upon me not for want of respect for lawful authority, but in obedience to the higher law of our being - the voice of conscience."