By Pawan Khera and Manish Khanduri
(With inputs from Gaurav Pandhi)
This seems to be the time for long journeys. Even before the Bharat Jodo Yatris commenced their daily march this morning, there was a conclusion to another voyage at UC College, Aluva. Congress workers led by Member of Parliament Rahul Gandhi planted a sapling that had traveled hundreds of kilometres, and across the sea from Lakshadweep. Almost 100 years ago, Gandhiji planted a mango tree at the same place. It seems an apt symbol of India’s distances, diversity, history, and the Bharat Jodo Yatra’s vision of nurturing and healing the nation.
Photo credit: Shatrughan Sharma Yatri
Photo Credit: Akshay Yadav Yatri
A large crowd gathered, early morning, as the padyatris started their walk from the Parambayam Jum’a Masjid. Shravan Govindrao Rapanwad, a Bharat Yatri from Maharastra said, “It’s been amazing to see such large crowds in the morning; people are coming from all over the state and outside as well.”
The padyatris ended their 12-kilometre morning walk with a break at Karukutty Kappela Junction and went on for their midday rest at Angamaly.
The Bharat Jodo Yatra is presently in the state of Kerala. Over 19 days in the state, it will cover 7 districts over 450 kilometres, before it commences in Karnataka on October 1.
The Bharat Jodo Yatra is five months, 3500-kilometre-long padyatra from Kanyakumari in the South of India to Srinagar in the North. It is part of the party’s national mass outreach program to highlight social polarisation, economic inequalities, and political centralisation.
Source for ground research: Aparna Ashwarya (INC Communications Department research team)
Midday Travel Facts
- Route traveled/ major settlements: Parambayam – Karukutty Kappela Junction
- Current District Name – Ernakulam
