Pawan Khera and Manish Khanduri
(With inputs from Gaurav Pandhi)
Today we remembered one of the greatest human beings of all time. The 153rd birth anniversary of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was a time for reflection, to remember and to create memories.
The yatris started their day at the Khadi Gramodyog, Badanavalu village with a floral tribute to Gandhiji’s statue. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and other leaders also had an interaction with woman weavers from the area, discussing their experiences and challenges at work.
The yatris were revisiting history – Badanavalu village has deep historical significance. It is an example of a ‘model village’ under the concept of Gandhiji’s concept of Swaraj” and “Self-sufficient” villages and is the home to one of the earliest examples of Karnataka’s Khadi weavers cooperatives. Gandhiji came here twice, in 1927 and in 1932.
Subsequently there was a tree plantation event for the Bharat yatris. Post this, the Rahul Gandhi visited Badanavalu village and as part of shramdan, helped pave a local road with coloured tiles, and painted a wall of the village primary school. The shramdan is also intended to be a symbol for bringing together the various communities in the village.
“This was one of life’s more memorable experiences”, said Vaibhav Walia, Bharat Yatri, “Planting a sapling in an atmosphere of calm and serenity. Given the opportunity I’d like to return to see it grow”.
Yatri Vaibhav Walia plants a sapling at the iconic Badanavalu village in Karnataka
Post the ceremonies the yatris returned to Khadi Gramodyog for morning break.
The Bharat Jodo Yatra is presently in the state of Karnataka. Over the next 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.