Pawan Khera and Manish Khanduri
They were coming in droves, converging from all directions towards the #BharatJodoYatra’s evening stop at Medshi Village, before the Padyatris even got started some 10 kilometres away at Malegaon Jahangir.
For Sufiyan and his friends Shaad, Shahid and Aman who came from a nearby village some five kilometres away, it was more a moment of celebration. Said Sufiyan, “When we heard that the Yatra was coming through a place nearby, everyone wanted to come.”
Sufiyan and his friends Shaad, Arshad, Shahid and Aman came to celebrate the Yatra – and have fun
Meanwhile at Medshi village itself there was an air of anticipation. All along the main road we saw artists and performers; notably an almost 100 feet long chain of young dancers moving in time to the Lezim music. Close by the village entrance range Asha Taide had set up a stall displaying local snacks made by women entrepreneurs she hoped to showcase to Congress MP Rahul Gandhi. We do know that she did some business with the hungry Bharat Yatris!
Asha Taide (second from right) had set up a stall displaying local snacks made by women entrepreneurs
Others knew that if they waited long enough, eventually what they want would happen. Kadar and Sheikh Chand who were sitting by the roadside outside Meshi patiently waiting for the Padyatra said, “We wanted to see the Yatris because we will tell them that we support them. We want a strong united nation too.”
Kadar and Sheikh Chand who were sitting by the roadside outside Meshi patiently waiting for the Padyatra
Meanwhile the Padyatris commenced half an hour earlier than their usual time of 4PM. In the afternoon Rahul Gandhi met with civil society leaders and representatives including Medha Patkar. In a freewheeling conversation the activists spoke about the need to strengthen democratic institutions and further promote decentralisation.
The Bharat Yatris walked with their usual vigour making short work of a “mere 10 kilometres”. However, one trend we are seeing is that of, individuals participating in the Yatra and retuning time and again. For Ranjeet Rawat, ex MLA from Uttarakhand, the Yatra has become something of a magnet. He’s already traveled four times from his home base in Ramnagar more than a thousand kilometres away, and now plans to come back in every state all the way to Kashmir.
Ranjeet Rawat, ex MLA from Uttarakhand, isn’t a Bharat Yatri but already traveled four times from his home base in Ramnagar more than a thousand kilometres away to join the Yatra
“I’m not a Bharat Yatri” he says “But if my leader Rahul Gandhi is walking 3500 kilometres then I felt it’s the least I can do.”
Currently in the state of Maharashtra, 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.
Speaking at a corner meeting at the end of the day, Rahul Gandhi told the assembled crowd that it was “their love and power that was driving them onwards.” He continued, referring to the national flag, “The Bharat Jodo Yatra shall carry this tricolour to Srinagar… and now power can stop this Yatra from reaching Srinagar.”
Ground research: Aparna Ashwarya (INC Communications Department research team)
End of Day Travel Facts
1. District name: Hingoli
2. Hingoli district is the birthplace of famous Marathi writer, F.M Shinde.
3. Hingoli is well known for its educational institutions.
4. Aundha Naganath, one of the 12 jyotirlingas is located in Hingoli district making it an important pilgrimage destinations for Hindus.
5. Washim Taluka is the largest cotton-producing area in Maharashtra and is also the largest producer of sorghum along with the Malegaon and Mangrulpir areas.
6. Washim district is well known for its famous pilgrimage sites, including the Venkateswara Balaji Temple.
7. Akola district is the birthplace of Dr Vijay P. Bhatkar, designer of India’s first supercomputer, Param 8000.
8. Akola district is well known for its forts such as Narnala Fort, Akot Fort, and Balapur Fort.
9. Ashoka Vatika, an important pilgrimage site of Buddhists is located in Akola district.
10. The region of Akola along with the Berar province is mentioned in the, Mahabharata. The region was part of the famous kingdom of “Vidharba”.
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