By Pawan Khera and Manish Khanduri
Yesterday started with a period of serenity and contemplation celebrating Gandhi Jayanti, and ended in an iconic image of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi drenched while addressing a massive crowd in pouring rain.
Today opened like a shot of pure adrenaline as large crowds gathered even as the pad yatris started their walk at 6:30AM. “It felt like many thousand people were there, and increasing” said Bharat Yatri Yogesh Meena.
We walk together: from left to right, Yatris Arti Nirmohi, Himachal Pradesh, Ankit Sah, Uttarakhand and Sachin Dwivedi, Madhya Pradesh
In the last two days Gandhi has visited Suttur Mutt, Masjid-e-Azam and the St. Philomena’s Cathedral in Mysuru. At Suttir Mutt, Gandhi met with Seer Sri Shivaratri Deshikendra Swamiji.
The padyatris had a brisk walk, starting early at 6:30AM from R Gate, Hardinge Circle ending 12 kilometres away at Valley Inn, Agrahara, Srirangapatna. The weather was mild and walking was comparatively easier as compared to other hot, humid days.
Today en route we met Arti Nirmohi yatri from Himachal Pradesh who was walking with a group of fellow yatris. “In such pleasant weather conditions, in the company of my fellow yatris, and with the overwhelming love we feel from the people, I feel I can walk forever”.
Keep going.
The Bharat Jodo Yatra is presently in the state of Karnataka. Over 21 days in the state, it will cover 511 kilometres.
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.
Source for ground research: Aparna Ashwarya (INC Communications Department research team)
Midday Travel Facts
1. Current District Name -Mysore
2. Karnataka is the seventh largest state in India. It’s major rivers are Cauvery, Tungabhadra and Krishna.
3. Earlier known as “The State of Mysore”, it was formed on 1 November 1956, after the State Re-organisation Act of 1956
4. Karnataka is the fastest-growing economy in India.
5. Gandhi ji visited Mysore twice in 1927 and 1934 respectively. His objective was to raise awareness and gather support for the freedom movement.
6. After the assassination of Mahatama Gandhi in 1948, Sardar Patel laid the foundation stone of the memorial of Mahatama Gandhi at Gandhi Square in Mysuru on 24 February 1949.