By Pawan Khera and Manish Khanduri
Today was the Mahila March, a day that the #BharatJodoYatra celebrates in every start it passes through, to acknowledge the contribution of women.
At a press conference in the afternoon women participants in the Yatra spoke about their experiences. President Mahila Congress Neta D’Souza stated that “Women came forward in great numbers to join the Yatra. It is a recognition of the political empowerment given to women through reservations in the 74th Amendment Act by Rahul Gandhi.”
Indeed it was a massive showing and by all accounts the gathering of women as the walked this day numbered into the tens of thousands. In the first leg of the journey, an approximately 12 kilometres walk from Tejaji Mandir to the midday halt at Pipalwara we saw women gathered all along the route despite the morning chill that lasted even as the sun came up. And in the evening walk to Kushtala, those numbers seemed to shooot up even more. Incidentally, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra walked alongside the Yatris today.
We will ask our women Yatris to summarise today’s experiences in their own words.
Jyoti Rautela
I am presently the State President of the Mahila Congress in Uttarakhand, and have previously contested an MLA election for the Congress party.
The role of women in society and politics needs even greater acknowledgement. I am grateful to the Congress Party and the Bharat Jodo Yatra team for organising the Mahila March. The Congress has been at the forefront in supporting women rights. In the early days of the Yatra we took out a candle march in support of rape and murder victim Ankita Bhandari, and against the BJP’s regressive anti- women policies.
It was a great experience walking with our leaders. Priyanka ji was happy to learn that I am a Bharat Yatri and have been walking in the Yatra from the start at Kanyakumari.
Jyoti Rautela (Right) – “The Congress has been at the forefront in supporting women rights”
Aarti Nirmohi
I am from Himachal Pradesh. I have been with NSUI in various positions since 2005. I have won three elections, for Pradhan, BDC and Zila Panchayat. At present I am a Block Ashyaksha.
I had the opportunity to to accompany Priyanka ji and we spoke about Himachal Pradesh – I belong to that state and thanked her for her leadership in the recent state elections. It gives me a great sense of pride that we have formed the government there. Priyanka ji congratulated me on our victory and asked me to see her when next she is in the state.
Aarti Nirmohi: “Priyanka ji congratulated me on the Congress victory in Himachal Pradesh. It gives me a great sense of pride that we have formed the government in my home state”
Nandita Hooda
I am from Chandigarh and a Bharat Yatri. This Yatra is a great opportunity to immerse oneself in other cultures and meet diverse peoples.
It was amazing to witness the excitement of the thousands of women gathered since early morning. Many of us were wearing traditional Rajasthani dresses which made it even more exciting.
Every state that we pass through, has welcomed us like family. It’s been incredible to see the response that Rahul Gandhi is getting among the people. I believe that at a time when hate and divisiveness is on the rise this Yatra is becoming essential for the nation’s future.
Nandita Hooda (holding flag): “It was amazing to witness the excitement of the thousands of women gathered since early morning. Many of us were wearing traditional Rajasthani dresses which made it even more exciting.”
Lhingkim Haokip
I’m a firm believer in the ideologies of the Congress. Previously I have contested as an MLA candidate for the Congress in Manipur. As a mother of three children, I believe that women in this nation, and in the North East states have had their rights eroded under the BJP/ RSS regimes. I believe in the values of secularism, equality and respect that the Congress Party stands for.
The Mahila March today is a reflection of these values. It felt great to be recognised as a woman and as a leader. There were a huge number of women who came to join us today. In the afternoon session there must have been tens of thousand! A fantastic day to be part of the #BharatJodoYatra.
Lhingkim Haokip (second from right): I’m a firm believer in the ideologies of the Congress. I believe that women in this nation, and in the North East states have had their rights eroded under the BJP/RSS regimes”
Rachna Samleti
I am the Sarpanch of Samleti Gram Sabha in Rajasthan. I joined the Yatra in Maharashtra.
As a sarpanch I feel strongly about women’s issues and the need to support women in the fields of education and healthcare. I myself, am an M.A and B.Ed in Political Science and want to make an impact as a leader in my area.
Some of my accomplishments as sarpanch have included the building of Sulabh shauchalayas in all 6 villages in my Gram Sabha, and the ongoing construction of a sports stadium.
I personally see the huge impact that the #BharatJodoYatra is making especially among women, and it’s been encouraging.
I think this Yatra should have been done five years ago! It’s a great way to improve connectivity with the people.
Rachna Samleti (left): “As a Sarpanch I personally see the huge impact that the #BharatJodoYatra is making among rural women”
Through the day Congress MP Rahul Gandhi interacted with women from diverse fields. In the morning he walked with representatives of the group Education for Fraternity, and also transgender individuals from Kota. In the evening session he met with footballers and adolescent girls from Ajmer.
Earlier in the afternoon Gandhi had an interaction with representatives of women’s organisations from Rajasthan. It was a wide ranging discussion in which the Congress leader emphasised his strong support for womens rights and the pressing need to do more in the prevailing conditions.
Currently in the state of Rajasthan, the Bharat Jodo Yatra is a five month, 3500 kilometre long Padyatra from Kanyakumari in the South of India to Kashmir up in the North. It is part of the party’s national mass outreach program aimed at highlighting social polarisation, economic inequalities and political centralisation.
Ground research: Aparna Ashwarya (INC Communications Department research team)
Travel Facts
1. District name: Sawai Madhopur
2. Sawai Madhopur district is home to the world famous Ranthambore Tiger Reserve.
3. The district is the birthplace of the famous painter Mr Ram Gopal Verma.
4. The district has one of the most important places for Hindu Pilgrimage, Ghusmeshwar Mahadev. It is said to be the 12th and last jyotirlingas of Mahadev.
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