Tumkur, Karnataka: It’s been a month since Rahul Gandhi and 150 ‘Bharat Yatris’ set off on the three,570 km Bharat Jodo Yatra from Kanyakumari to Kashmir. By the point the yatra reached Karnataka after crossing two states, most of the yatris had, nonetheless, began feeling the warmth.
As ThePrint spends time with the yatris in Tumkur, many exhibit blisters like battle scars, whereas others spoke about strolling with 102-degree fever. Just a few others communicate of dwelling and forsaking household and youngsters to take part in what they describe as an “expertise of a lifetime”.
The method of selecting the Bharat Yatris was about three weeks lengthy, says Congress normal secretary Jairam Ramesh. “There was a two-member committee that consisted of Mukul Wasnik and Digvijaya Singh. They vetted 1000’s of purposes that got here in from the PCCs (Pradesh Congress Committees),” says Ramesh.
Age, health, size of service within the Congress, and suggestions from the PCCs had been among the elements considered whereas drawing up the ultimate record, he says.
Of the 150 yatris, about 30 per cent are girls and the goal was to make the group as various as potential, he provides.
A typical day for the yatris entails waking at 4.30 am after which preparing in time for the flag hoisting and singing of the nationwide anthem on the campsite at 6 am. The start line for the day is usually a couple of kilometres away from the campsite. The yatra begins between 6.30 and seven am on a regular basis.
The yatris stroll about 10-11 km until 11 am, after they attain the day’s break level. The journey begins as soon as once more from 4 pm and culminates after overlaying one other 10-11 km until 7 pm, after which the contributors retire for the day at campsites.
ThePrint speaks to among the Bharat Yatris in Tumkur, Karnataka at their resting tents through the yatra.
The younger & the ‘outdated’
Anulekha Boosa, 27, from Telangana, is the youngest Bharat Yatri and is nationwide secretary of the Nationwide College students’ Union of India, the Congress’ scholar wing.
“I used to be the youngest delegate on the Nav Sankalp Shivir (in Udaipur) additionally,” she quips.
The journey, nonetheless, has not been straightforward. “In Kerala, due to the humidity and different issues, I fell sick for 4 days. Of that, two days I couldn’t even get up,” she says, exhibiting the blisters on her foot. “Even then, I used to be within the ambulance for half a day and strolling the opposite half. There are such a lot of outdated individuals additionally who’re strolling on this yatra. I assumed, ‘If they will stroll, why can’t I?’”
She’s in all probability referring to 58-year-old Vijendra Singh Mehlawat from Alwar, the oldest yatri. When requested if he’s confronted well being points too, Mehlawat solutions within the detrimental.
“Within the first few days, I had some ache in my knees. However that went away quickly sufficient,” he says.
Giving particulars of his choice for the yatra, Mehawat says each the celebration and his household had been very apprehensive. “After I informed my leaders, they stated I’m 58 and impressed upon me that it will likely be troublesome to stroll at such an age. In addition they stated that the youthful boys who’re making use of could have a better probability of being chosen. I informed them that even when I used to be 98, I’d have utilized.”
“When Rajiv Gandhi’s son is strolling by foot, why can’t I,” he provides.
When requested what his most memorable second up to now 30 days has been, the Rajasthan native breaks down.
“We’ve been instructed to not eat an excessive amount of outdoors meals. Even when we do, we have now been requested to eat packed meals. However in Kerala, a woman, who stated she was a trainer, got here with biscuits that she stated she’d baked herself. She implored us to eat. I can always remember that. The sort of love that has been showered on us.”
The ‘politicos’
Whereas the yatra has individuals like Anulekha and Vijendra, who’re a lot decrease within the celebration hierarchy, it additionally contains seasoned politicos who’re sharing the identical campsite.
Considered one of them is Sachin Rao, the Congress’ in-charge of coaching and INC Sandesh, which conveys the celebration’s official bulletins.
When requested about any niggles or fevers he’s skilled, Rao says that for him, the yatra is now past such issues. “Mentally, I’m in a spot the place the place the place I put my head down on a regular basis is dwelling. This isn’t regular. This isn’t on a regular basis life. This can be a totally different dimension spiritually, mentally and emotionally. Phrases like routine, dwelling, niggles, don’t actually matter. This universe is totally different.”
He additionally says that the yatra has given him one thing he’s by no means obtained all through his political profession — peculiar individuals thanking him for doing his job.
“It goes one thing like this: they’ll cease you and ask you ‘the place you’re from’. Then I say, ‘Delhi’. Then they ask ‘the place are you strolling from?’ So, I say ‘Kanyakumari’. Then they ask, ‘Oh! You’re going all the way in which to Kashmir?’ Then after I say ‘sure’, they wish to guarantee that they’ve heard proper. Then they offer you two thumbs up and say ‘thanks’. What number of occasions in politics do you get thanked for what you’re doing? It’s not even a spot the place you get revered for what you’re doing. So, to get thanked so usually is kind of an unbelievable place to be in.”
Rao has additionally impressed fellow yatri Chandy Oommen, the son of former Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy, to stroll barefoot.
When requested about his regular routine, Chandy sheepishly says that he’s often a “bit late” whereas waking up within the mornings. However that has modified because the yatra started on 7 September.
“It is extremely totally different from what my routine was at St. Stephen’s School, I can inform you that!” he says, reminiscing his school days in Delhi.
He then explains the rationale behind strolling barefoot. “I used to be not barefooted after I began. Then Sachin Rao suggested me and I gave it a go after I was in Kollam (Kerala). I walked 17 km barefoot and I discovered that it gave me vitality. My toes had been freed up. If the street is nice, that is the very best means.”
Chandy additional says that the spotlight of the yatra for him was when his father walked with Rahul Gandhi.
“Thrice he [Rahul] insisted that my father return, similar to he did with Sonia Gandhi. In truth, one time, he made my father sit within the automobile and even took his legs and put them contained in the automobile as a result of my father has some situation together with his legs. That actually touched me, particularly after I noticed him deal with Sonia ji the identical method.”
The ladies
Sheeba Ramachandran, 47, from Kerala, has left behind a daughter in ninth grade along with her husband to affix the yatra.
“Since I’ve been married, I’ve by no means sought permission from my husband to go anyplace. Be it the Taj Mahal, Darjeeling or Paris. So this time too, I didn’t want his permission. He stated that I can go with none headache and that he’ll deal with the home.”.
Her motivation for strolling, she says, is the unemployment within the nation and the way educated youth go overseas looking for jobs. Sheeba herself was in Saudi Arabia for 15 years working as a trainer, throughout which she was related to the Abroad Indian Cultural Congress (OICC).
Her largest cheerleader is her daughter.
“She informed me, ‘Amma [mother], be daring!’. She may learn me very effectively. I’ve at all times given significance to each my household and the celebration. This time isn’t any totally different. The revival of the celebration is the necessity of the hour.”
Sitting subsequent to Sheeba on the resting tent is Fatima Ibrahim, 46, who says she’s been an energetic member of the Congress celebration for 23 years.
In truth, she proudly says, two of her three youngsters are additionally working with the celebration.
“My 26-year-old son is the faculty election chairman, whereas my 21-year-old daughter is the state normal secretary of the Jawahar Bal Manch. My third baby is my 18-year-old daughter and she or he’s but to affix this insanity,” she laughs.
The response that the yatra has obtained from peculiar individuals is what has touched her probably the most, Fatima says. “Whereas we’re strolling, a number of disabled individuals wait alongside the street to catch a glimpse of Rahul ji. Girls convey their youngsters. It’s actually heart-warming.”
The favored neurologist
Shushruta Haden, 48, appears to be some of the widespread yatris within the camp.
ThePrint’s staff was led to him by fellow yatris who insisted that we communicate to him.
Haden, a neurologist by occupation, skilled within the US and lived there for 15 years. He returned to India in 2019. He says he’s not affiliated to the Congress or every other political celebration.
“After I got here again in 2019, I made a decision to do some social work for individuals in and round Mysore. We’ve handled round 3,500 individuals freed from price and delivered healthcare to their doorsteps. We arrange well being camps and adopted that up with telemedicine as soon as we had been again. This was observed by some individuals within the Congress and so they requested me if I’d like to affix the Bharat Jodo Yatra,” he says.
“There’s a egocentric cause for me taking part on this yatra. I needed to try the agricultural areas and give you a plan to assist the agricultural individuals. If yet one more pandemic hits, then telemedicine will probably be an awesome concept.”
Haden says he mentioned his telemedicine plans with Rahul when he acquired to stroll with him through the walkathon.
“I used to be stunned by how educated he’s. He went on and on about telemedicine know-how, why it could actually’t be tailored in India now and the way it may be tailored later. He additionally spoke to me concerning the variations within the rural and concrete healthcare system and what number of issues on this sector will be solved by consolidated insurance coverage schemes. I used to be pleasantly stunned that politicians in immediately’s time additionally take into consideration such issues,” the neurologist provides.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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