Seven-day ‘Gandhi Vichar Padyatra’, which began from Kandel village of Dhamtari district, concluded at Gandhi Maidan in State Capital on Thursday. The Padyatra began from Sejbahar on Thursday and it concluded at Gandhi Maidan. On the last day of the Padyatra, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee (CPCC) President Mohan Markam, All India Congress Committee (AICC) Secretary for Chhattisgarh Dr Chandan Yadav, Home Minister Tamradhwaj Sahu, Agriculture Minister Ravindra Choubey, School Education Minister Dr Premsai Singh Tekam, MLAs Vikas Upadhyay, Kuldeep Juneja, Rajya Sabha Member Chhaya Verma, MLAs and Congress leaders participated in the Padyatra. Speaking on the concluding programme of the Padyatra at Gandhi Maidan, Chief Minister said that Congress government is working to make the people of the state self-dependent by following the path of Mahatma Gandhi.
Baghel stated that Mahatma Gandhi had not only made India free but also he made Lord Rama free from conservative thought. Baghel said that Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of nationalism has place for every section of the society. “Gandhi’s nationalism includes respecting the disagreement of even the weakest of the weak people. Mahatma Gandhi’s idea of nationalism was inspired by saintly teachings and holy preaching of great thinkers, Mahavir Swami, Gautam Buddha, Gurunanak, Kabir, Guru Ghasidas and many great personas,” he added. First civil disobedience movement was held in Kandel village of Chhattisgarh during freedom movement. Under the leadership of freedom fighter late Babu Chhotelal Shrivastava, Kandel Nahar Satyagrah was launched in protest of irrigation tax imposed by British rulers. Farmers refused to pay irrigation tax.
To join this Nahar Satyagrah, Mahatma Gandhi was about to reach Kandel. But as soon as British rulers received this news, they had to withdraw the tax imposition. To preserve the memory of Kandel Nahar Satyagrah and to promote the thoughts and principles of Gandhi among masses, ‘Gandhi Vichar Padyatra’ was started from Kandel village, said Baghel. Baghel said that Mahatma Gandhi fought for the rights of farmers and labourers. Gandhi dedicated his life for noble causes such as women education, women empowerment and self dependence.
He followed the path of truth and non-violence and made India independent. Following the footsteps of Mahatma Gandhi, many countries attained their freedom. Today, entire country is celebrating 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, he said. CPCC President Mohan Markam, AICC Secretary Dr Chandan Yadav and Agriculture Minister Ravindra Choubey also addressed the concluding ceremony of the Padyatra. PCC In-charge General Secretary Girish Dewangan conducted the proceedings of the programme.
