In a healthy democracy both the ruling party and the opposition have a responsibility to the country and surely the people will judge them in the discharge of that responsibility. ~R VENKATARMAN
Who is responsible for starting padayatras in India?
If we look at the modern history of India, then we come to know thatBIG AND LONG WALKS (PADYATRAS)have been of great importance. The most successful use of which, in politics was done by Mahatma Gandhi.
Indian politics is still largely influenced by Mahatma Gandhi’s mannerisms, for Indian politicians leave no stone unturned to show themselves influenced by Mahatma Gandhi’s ideas. Undoubtedly, Mahatma Gandhi remains the brightest star in the sky of Indian politics to date.
The biggest question is, can government power be captured from the ruling party by Gandhian methods?
Will Rahul Gandhi’s plan to repeat what Mahatma did, be successful in 2022?
What is meant by Congress’s Bharat Jodo Yatra?
Bharat jodo literally means unite india .
Congress party is calling this yatra a movement and urging all the people of the country to join this yatra.
When did the Yatra start? Where will it eventually go?
Bharat Jodo Yatra will start from Kanyakumari, the last city of far south India and will go till Sri Nagar in Kashmir. During this, the passengers involved in the journey will cover a distance of about 3570 km in 150 days.
CONGRESS PARTY :-
Congress party is the oldest political party in India. It was founded by an Englishman A. O. Hume. Congress played an important role in India’s freedom struggle. It had influence across the whole nation due to its large no. of members.
Mahatma Gandhi should be credited for transforming Congress from an elite Indian institution to a mass institution.
What is the purpose of Bharat Jodo Yatra according to Congress Party
Congress believes that the present government has proved to be a complete failure on every front.
Congress says that inflation is at the peak, there is no employment, and the divisive forces threaten the nation, in such a situation, the nation needs to be united and make a joint effort, this effort to unite the countrymen on this subject has been named as Bharat Jodo Yatra.
There are conversations taking place which talk about an increase in incidents of violence against minorities and women. Congress says that the policy interventions of the central government are focused only on maximizing profits and increasing their resources for their capitalist friends.
All these allegations are almost the same as in any other democracy of the world, the opposition party always keep accusing the ruling party no matter what.
What did Mahatma Gandhi gain from the BIG WALK ?
The most famous BIG WALK (padyatra) of Mahatma Gandhi was the Dandi march.
Mahatma Gandhi completed the journey of about 400 kilometers from Ahmedabad to Dandi in 24 days.
This trip had two purposes
@symbolic purpose
@ real purpose
Symbolic Purpose: Gandhiji broke the salt law of the British Government.
Actual purpose: – There were also some long term objectives of this Big walk . Some of these are mentioned below:-
- Mahatma Gandhi had become a well-known name in every house in India by the 1920’s, he knew that the media around the world would cover his Big walk and there was a possibility of creating an atmosphere against British imperialism infront of the whole nation.
- Mahatma Gandhi was also successful in giving a new fresh start to the independent movements all over India.
Congress party will get some benefit from Rahul Gandhi’s padyatra, it seems to be getting some success in connecting with the young voters of the nation, but whether this yatra will be able to leave any noticeable impact in the elections is rather doubtful.
Rahul Gandhi is travelling like a true Hindu to almost all the major temples falling on the route and is also trying to remove the label of Muslim appeasement on himself and the party, while promising the welfare of minorities to woo Muslim voters.
Mahatma Gandhi was completely successful in attracting the attention of the media of the whole world with his Big walk , while the Congress seems to be more or less unsuccessful in attracting the attention of the country as well as the media, the news regarding the Bharat Jodo Yatra rarely come in the headlines. The discussion of Padyatra seems to be limited only to social media.
Mahatma became a well known name of India during his Padyatra while Rahul Gandhi is facing challenges even within his party. Rahul can never be free from familyism, this is both his biggest weakness and strength.
My own belief is that if Rahul Gandhi had done this long walk 10 years ago, he could have achieved better results, it seems likely that Rahul will neither get any advantages from this walk nor will Congress be able to achieve something notice worthy.
Unfortunately, social media has artificialized mass movements in the present times. It is a polemical truth that politics has been simplified by modern technology, but this doesn’t mean one would foolishly expect miracles to happen.
Mahatma Gandhi’s movement was successful because it stood on Gandhi’s strong ideas, there was a unique harmony between Gandhi’s ideas and the ideas of the public, until Rahul succeeds in achieving this harmony, his success will remain questionable.
Bharat Jodo Yatra was organized by the Congress party in all the major cities of the country. One such event happened in Varanasi also, so I decided to have a closer look at the event.
BHARAT JODO YATRA OR CARNIVAL OF SENIOR CITIZENS
After closely watching the Bharat Jodo Yatra of Congress in Varanasi and being a part of this yatra for about 5 kms, I can say one thing for sure, that is, that the Congress party has completely lost its mass base among the youth.
I have seen many political rallies, but nowhere have I seen such a tiny number of young people’s presence. The youth was surprisingly absent in the entire rally. I did see few of them but they had come with their fathers and grandfathers, the whole rally seemed like a carnival of senior citizens, this sign is no less than an alarm bell for the Congress, Congress needs to make concerted efforts to extend its reach to the young supporters or Congress will be seen struggling for its existence after a couple more elections.
Yes, it takes a Mahatma Gandhi to do what Mahatma Gandhi did. And does Rahul really have what it takes to fill Mahatma’s walking shoes?
agree sir, Rahul, just a copycat, Now the social conditions are very different.
I don’t think so. The main reason is lack of sincerity on his part. Emulating behaviours of Gandhi is easy, but not following his principles. Thank you, Nitin ji for writing on a contemporary topic.
Mr. Singh ! Your article is worth reading . Your mind is almost clear about the aftermath of the Padyatra (Long March) of Sri Rahul Gandhi . To my mind , the biggest obstacle on his way to come back to power is Elite Sructure of the Congress Party apart from his own Elite background . People of India is no longer ready either to accept any government by the Elite class of the society or to accept a Proxy government of the Past Types . That’s why unlike The Great Mahatma , Shri Rahul Gandhi’s Padyatra is unable to attract the masses . The people have rejected him a leader of the masses long back . And if you remember the history of the recent past , you might be aware of Madame Sonia Gandhi Long March and the Long March of Amit Shah . Both remained to be fruitful. Realizing so , I think , and his party might have suggested him to have an All India Padyatra as a panacea for reviving All India National Congress Party as such . Thanks !
Thanks !
Great article! Rahul Gandhi has started his long walk as Bharat jodo. It is his great initiative but I am not sure if the Congress party can be profitable with it. Well shared.